Management Team
The management team at AACI consists of professionals with multicultural and multilingual backgrounds. Learn more about the team below.
Sarita Kohli, M.B.A.
Role at AACI: President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
For over 25 years, Sarita has worked on expanding access to linguistically and culturally sensitive health, behavioral health and social services. As a licensed mental health professional herself, Sarita has firsthand knowledge of the impact of stress, loss, trauma, on physical and emotional health. Sarita is passionate about equity in healthcare resources, particularly for individuals marginalized by poverty, gender-based violence, mental illness, cultural and language barriers.
Sarita holds an MBA and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is currently serving as Chair of the Board for Santa Clara Family Health Plan and has previously served for eight years on the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Sara Morales, PHR, SHRM-CP
Role at AACI: Chief People Officer (CPO)
Sara brings over 20 years of experience in operational and strategic HR practices to the Human Resources programs and functions at AACI. Prior to joining AACI in 2019, Sara honed her human resources skills in a variety of industries including, technology, education, consulting and not-for-profit, focusing on streamlining of HR process and supporting organizational strategy with a people-centered approach.
Sara earned her Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco. She holds certifications as a Society for Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and HRCI Certified Professional of Human Resource (PHR).
Tammy Alvarez
Role at AACI: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Tammy Alvarez brings 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked in both Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and behavioral health provider settings, including serving as the Chief Operating Officer of an FQHC in San Francisco. She has extensive expertise in Operations, IT/IS, Compliance, Risk Management, and Facilities Management.
Tammy is passionate about AACI’s mission and is honored to be part of an organization dedicated to providing excellent healthcare to our underserved population.
She earned her MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business.
Mariana Aungurencei
Role at AACI: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Mariana Aungurencei is a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance, including 17 years in leadership roles. She has a proven track record of managing complex budgets, leading financial audits, and implementing robust internal controls across nonprofit and educational sectors.
Her expertise spans financial reporting, grant compliance, revenue cycle management, and system implementations. She has successfully led organizations through major transitions, including mergers, system overhauls, and pandemic-related financial challenges. Mariana is known for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to operational excellence, and passion for mission-driven work.
Fluent in Romanian and based in San Jose, California, Mariana holds a B.S. in Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania, and multiple certifications in accounting and financial systems.
Gerard Manuel
Role at AACI: Director of Wellness Services
After 25 years in the municipal sector, Gerard joined AACI in 2018 as the Director of Wellness Services responsible for leading agency-wide integration efforts, wellness strategies and initiatives to drive positive change among AACI clients, patients and served communities. Gerard provides strategic leadership and oversight of wellness and community services that promote healthy independence, healthy lifestyles, and safety and security. Wellness Services programs includes Youth (focused on alcohol and other drug education); HIV Outreach, Prevention and Education; Domestic Violence; Senior Wellness; and DUI Workshops. He has worked for the Cities of San Jose, San Carlos and Sunnyvale and implemented strategies and developed programs that helped create community. He received his bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from San Jose State University.
Sarah Guertin
Role at AACI: Director of Development, Communications & Marketing
From setting the strategic vision for AACI’s messaging and communications efforts, to overseeing grants and cultivating new relationships with individual and corporate partners, Sarah’s role is to advance AACI’s mission through fundraising and marketing. Prior to joining AACI in 2015, Sarah was part of a consulting firm where she maintained a diverse portfolio of nonprofit clients which encompassed community-based health, education, youth, veteran, advocacy, and human service organizations. She received her bachelors degree in Public Health from the University of California, Irvine.
Vaughn Villaverde, MPH
Role at AACI: Director of Advocacy
With over a decade of experience in health policy and federal, state, and local safety net programs, Vaughn joined the AACI team in 2021 as the Director of Advocacy, where he is responsible for leading efforts to engage with elected officials and policymakers in support AACI’s various health, behavioral health, and wellness programs. Vaughn is also responsible for working with regional coalitions, organizational partners, and members of the community on efforts related to healthcare delivery, health equity, racial equity, social justice, and civic engagement. Prior to joining AACI, Vaughn served as Associate Director of Health Policy at Working Partnerships USA and worked in the Government Affairs Department at the California Primary Care Association (CPCA)—California’s statewide association of community health centers. Vaughn received both his bachelor’s degree in political science and his Master of Public Health with a focus on health policy and management from the University of California, Berkeley.
Yeshe Mengesha, MPH
Role at AACI: Director of Health Services
With over a decade of experience in healthcare, Yeshe Mengesha joined the AACI team in 2022 as the Director of Health Services. Yeshe is very experienced and skilled in FQHC operations and understands the healthcare landscape in Santa Clara County. Yeshe is on the Community Advisory Board of the Perinatal Equity Initiative and the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Community Advisory Board, a voting member of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, part of the County SCAN team and a member of the Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet. She received her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in behavioral health from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Nita Prasad
Role at AACI: Director of Behavioral Health
Nita Prasad is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a seasoned behavioral health leader with over 20 years of experience in mental health and substance use services. At AACI, she leads a wide range of Behavioral Health programs including Family and Children, Adult/Older Adult, the Center for Survivors of Torture, Bridging Families, and AACI’s Internship and Training programs that trains both Masters and Doctoral level trainees and interns. Additionally, Nita provides leadership and clinical supervision to a diverse team of trained staff, interns, and trainees. She also collaborates across departments and with community partners to strengthen AACI’s coordinated and integrated care approach and with Stakeholders to promote AACI vision and mission to serve with compassion reflecting her commitment to equity, mentorship, and community wellness.
Most recently, Nita served as a Clinical Supervisor for the City of Fremont, where she led multidisciplinary teams supporting both housed and unhoused adults and older adults with co-occurring issues and expanded aging services across the Tri-City area and before that extensively with children and families. She has served on board for Project Read in the past. Her leadership has consistently focused on culturally responsive, evidence-based care, and she is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, and understands Punjabi. Nita enjoys spending quality time with her family, gardening, socializing with friends, and cooking, in her free time.