New York Videogame Critics Circle Appoints Ryan O’Callaghan as new Executive Director

Former Mott Hall III teacher and 2023 Educator of the Year will lead philanthropic group;
Reggie Fils-Aimé and Harold Goldberg will continue to mentor and provide guidance for organization

NEW YORK – July 5, 2023 – The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) announced Ryan O’Callaghan as their new executive director. O’Callaghan previously served as a teacher at Mott Hall III and won the 2023 Elizabeth Jennings Graham Educator of the Year award at the New York Game Awards. As executive director, O’Callaghan will work on fundraising and education initiatives on behalf of NYVGCC, while Circle founder and former executive director Harold Goldberg will continue to serve on the organization’s board and as president.

“When I first reached out to Harold and Critics Circle about having the Circle at our school to mentor, I couldn’t imagine that it would transpire into an opportunity like this,” said Ryan O’Callaghan, executive director, NYVGCC. “Using video games as a catalyst to teach students about storytelling and relationship building was fundamental to my approach as a teacher, and I’m so grateful to be able to expand that to support more underserved communities through this role and build upon this incredible mission that Harold started.”

Goldberg founded NYVGCC in 2012 as a way to advocate for game writers while supporting underserved and unhoused youth who wanted to learn about and benefit from games and technology. Through educational programming, the organization has created job opportunities in the video game journalism and games industry for paid interns and participating students. Goldberg will work in tandem with O’Callaghan through the New York Game Awards in 2024.

“In our early discussions for this role, we kept coming back to Ryan and what he could offer to all of the programs, schools and industry partners we support,” said Harold Goldberg, founder and president, NYVGCC. “As our educator of the year for 2023, we were blown away by his compassion and dedication to his students at Mott Hall III as well as his love for video games. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to build with NYVGCC, and I look forward to seeing how Ryan helps grow this nonprofit as we look to the future.”

“As a mentor at Mott Hall III with the Circle, I’ve witnessed Ryan’s dedication to his students firsthand and am delighted to work alongside him as he takes on the role of executive director,” said Reggie Fils-Aimé, board member, NYVGCC. “Harold and I will continue to dedicate our time to the Circle’s mission of providing opportunity to underserved students in the Bronx and beyond, while supporting Ryan as he builds our organization’s next chapter.”

NYVGCC is a multicultural organization of more than 40 journalists who dedicate their time to mentoring students at Bronxworks network of homeless residences, Mott Hall III, CAMBA, TapCo, and DreamYard Prep School. The organization advocates for underserved students and its members. It uses its annual gala, the New York Game Awards, to elevate games that lift the genre and raise funds to support their educational, scholarship, and internship programs.

About New York Videogame Critics Circle 

Based in Manhattan, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit multicultural organization comprised of 40 of the finest videogame critics, writers, reporters and bloggers in the nation. Members of the NYVGCC give back to their communities by providing scholarships, mentoring and community outreach to NYC schools students. The New York Videogame Critics Circle sees great benefit in advocating for those who are less fortunate. 

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