Executive Director Transition Announcement

Nearly ten years ago, emboldened and inspired by community and mission, I accepted the role of Executive Director at the Autism Society of Minnesota. I was simultaneously intimidated and proud. In that tender and early phase of my career, I did not have a precise or mechanical vision for the evolution of an entire organization, but I promised to hold two principles always:

Listen to the people that you serve. Let love lead.

I had no idea then exactly how a job, even a great job, could become part of a person. In an effort to represent this community’s strengths and needs, I have held many privileges across countless sectors, partnerships, and programs. Each opportunity has offered me a chance to sharpen my knowledge, soften my empathy, and brighten my inspiration. With the help of so many colleagues, families, and advocates, I have watched AuSM grow more and more remarkable, even in the face of challenge.

Next month, I will step down from my role as AuSM’s Executive Director to accept a new role in strategic growth with Accra, an organization I have long-respected in person-centered homecare, offering dignified, self-directed disability supports. While the decision to make this transition has been intensely difficult, I have considered both the personal and organizational impacts deeply, and I know the time is right. I am grateful to continue as part of the broader mission of protection, support, and celebration of disability, right here in Minnesota, where I belong.

There is no way to mark a transition like this without naming the people who made the work possible. Thank you to mentors and donors, partners and collaborators, who believed in this organization and invested in its future. Thank you to the board members, past and present, who offered guidance, trust, and accountability. Thank you to the staff, whose commitment, creativity, and care have carried this mission forward every single day. And thank you, above all, to the autistic individuals, colleagues, and families who trusted me with your stories, your advocacy, and your hopes. You have been my teachers. You have shaped not only the work, but the way I move through the world. You are all endeared to me, always.

I hope my tenure is marked by a deepening of joy and connection, a widening of access, and a steady commitment to centering autistic voices in all that we do. I hope it is remembered as a time when we built something together that will continue to grow, adapt, and serve long after any one person’s role has ended.

In anticipation of this transition, and always, I ask you to strengthen your connection to the autism community through AuSM. This board and staff team has earned my full faith and respect, and I cannot wait to see where their leadership, vision, and care will take this organization next. The work ahead is important, and it is in very good hands—including yours. I invite you to stay close in this next chapter—follow the search for AuSM’s next Executive Director, and continue to support this work through your time, your voice, and your giving.

Many euphemize a change like this as a turning of a page or the conclusion of a chapter. But in my story, this chapter does not end; it expands. The relationships, lessons, and sense of purpose I have found here are part of me, shaping what comes next and keeping me closely tied to this community.

Thank you for helping me serve the Minnesota autism community. The honor has been mine.

Sincerely,

Ellie Wilson