As we welcome the changing of the leaves this Fall, Take This is embracing its own season of change. As of October 31, 2024, leadership at Take This will be changing hands between current executive director Eve Crevoshay and incoming executive director Kelli Dunlap.
Below is a heartfelt letter from Eve Crevoshay announcing her departure from the executive director position at Take This. In her message, Eve reflects on her journey with the organization and the things Take This has achieved during her time as executive director. She also speaks to bittersweet nature of her departure and shares her well-wishes to incoming executive director Kelli Dunlap.
Following Eve’s message is a letter from former community director and incoming executive director Kelli Dunlap. In her note, Kelli expresses her excitement and honor at stepping into this new role and leading Take This into 2025 and beyond. She shares her vision for the future of Take This and invites the community to join her in this next chapter.
A letter from Eve Crevoshay, exiting executive director
The time has come for a change in leadership at Take This. When I joined the organization in May of 2018, it was a small, struggling organization with a fantastic reputation for destigmatizing conversations about mental health in the game community. In partnership with my team, I’ve been able to build on that reputation for trustworthiness, accuracy, and advocacy with new programs and a greater reach. I’ve led the organization through a number of challenges, too: the departure of our founder, a major global pandemic, and an historic and heartbreaking downturn in our industry. I have found the work to be exciting and transformative, and I’m proud of the way Take This has become a guiding light for people who make and play games. Still, burnout has taken its toll, and it is time for me to move on from this position.
As of October 31, 2024, I will be stepping down from my role and Dr. Kelli Dunlap, our current community director, will be stepping into the Executive Director role. Kelli’s leadership fills me with excitement and confidence, and she will have a fantastic core team to support her, also with years of experience at Take This. Since joining Take This as a five hour a week contractor supporting our Streaming Ambassador program, Kelli has taken on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership. She has been running all of our community-facing programs, producing world-class content, and supervising much of the team. Given her experience across so much of the organization, Kelli has a deep and nuanced understanding of the organization’s mission and vision, and is equipped with the skills to navigate the complexities of running a nonprofit organization.
Kelli is steeped in both games and psychology, with advanced degrees and training in both, making her an ideal person to lead a mental health in games nonprofit. She is steady, hopeful, and kind, and she knows more about games than I ever will. I am so excited to see where she will lead Take This during its second decade.
Personally, I am both relieved and sad to be stepping away from Take This, although I take comfort in knowing that I will assist with the transition as a member of the Board of Directors, allowing me to support the fantastic team at a strategic and advisory level and preserve years of institutional knowledge. I hope you will join me in continuing to champion and celebrate the vital work that Take This brings to the game community.
All the best,
Eve
A letter from Kelli Dunlap, incoming executive director
I am delighted to be introducing myself today as the new executive director of Take This.
I first found out about Take This when I attended one of Dr. B’s panels at PAX in 2016. The idea that an organization existed where people cared about games and mental health the same way I did was exciting and made me feel less alone as a gamer and as a clinical psychologist with a game design degree. Shortly thereafter, I began volunteering with Take This in the AFK Room and eventually found myself on PAX panels alongside the Take This crew. So when the opportunity appeared in 2019 to join the team, it was the easiest ‘yes’ I’ve ever given.
I started my work at Take This as a program manager for the Streaming Ambassador program and then quickly grew into a role as community manager and then community director. From day 1, my goal has been to serve the Take This community, and the kindness, empathy, and camaraderie of this community has always been my true north. As executive director, I envision a Take This that is service-oriented and community-focused. This means prioritizing programs that directly support the well-being of game players, educating and uplifting game creators, and finding new and creative ways to bridge the gap in knowledge and experience between the games and mental health fields.
Thanks to the heroic and inspiring fundraising efforts of the community over the past few months, I am grateful and delighted to be able to share our plans for 2025. A major goal during this transition has been to recommit to our central mission and hone in on the programs and initiatives that are core to who we are as an org. In 2025, we will be focused on three key initiatives: The Accelerate Program, The AFK Program, and industry education and recognition programs.
2025 will see the successful completion of the very first season of the Accelerate fellowship program and plans are in development to expand for season two. We are also dedicating ourselves to making the AFK Program sustainable in 2025 with an eye toward growth and expansion in the future. Lastly, we will continue to work alongside game developers and studios. Our consultation and workshop programming will continue to provide training and education on ethical and authentic psychological representation in games and supporting studios in fostering mental health-informed workplaces. Through the Mental Health and Games Awards, we will uplift and celebrate games and studios that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in compassionate, non-stigmatizing portrayals of mental health themes and mental health challenges.
As I grow into the role of executive director, I feel both excited and optimistic about what 2025 holds. I deeply appreciate the unwavering support and faith of the community, board members, staff, and partners. I look forward to going on this journey with all of you.
Kelli