About Us – a small team with a big vision
Con Slobodchikoff, PhD
Founder and CEO
He has written or co-written some 100 scientific papers and popular articles on animal language, behavior, and evolution. He has also edited three books on these topics. He is the author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals (St. Martin’s Press), How to Talk to Your Dog (Lyons Press), and the lead author of Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society (Harvard University Press).
He has written or co-written some 100 scientific papers and popular articles on animal language, behavior, and evolution. He has also edited three books on these topics. He is the author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals (St. Martin’s Press), How to Talk to Your Dog (Lyons Press), and the lead author of Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society (Harvard University Press).
His work has been featured in a variety of news media articles and interviews. A joint production by BBC and Animal Planet did a one-hour documentary of his work, shown by BBC TV in Europe and on Animal Planet as part of the Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom series.
He has a B.S. and a Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Find out more about Con at conslobodchikoff.com
Katherine S. O’Donnell
Chief Operations Officer
Katherine S. O’Donnell is an accomplished executive leader and the Chief Operations Officer at Zoolingua, where she drives organizational excellence, strategic growth and operational execution. With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, animal welfare, communications and fundraising strategy, Katherine brings a rare combination of visionary thinking and hands-on leadership to her role.
As the founder of a communications company, Katherine has led complex initiatives across the animal welfare, public health, educational, environmental, youth services, and nonprofit sectors—building teams, systems, and stories that drive measurable results. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them. She has worked with animal shelters, rescue organizations, veterinary clinics, and animal adoption agencies in the United States.
At Zoolingua, Katherine leads strategic operations, team integration, and resource alignment to ensure the organization is structured for success as it advances groundbreaking research in animal-human communication. Her ability to translate complex goals into executable plans positions Zoolingua to scale its impact and secure long-term sustainability.
Katherine is not only a seasoned executive but a trusted catalyst for innovation—someone who understands both the heart and the structure of mission-driven work. Her leadership is a key driver in Zoolingua’s quest to reshape the future of interspecies understanding.
Brett Weichers
Lead Engineer
Brett Weichers brings decades of engineering expertise to Zoolingua, combining deep knowledge of mechanical systems with cutting-edge software development.
With a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Professional Engineer license, Brett has worked on everything from 3D visualization and GPS machine guidance to blockchain-based clean energy systems. His background spans VR, medical imaging, smart contracts, mobile app development, and civil infrastructure.
A hands-on innovator, Brett has led projects across the U.S. and Pacific Islands, integrating sensors, AI, and real-time data into powerful applications. At Zoolingua, he drives the technology that helps us understand and communicate with animals.
Starr Denison, MS
Animal Behavior Coordinator
Starr Denison holds a B.S. in Zoology from Northern Arizona University and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With over 30 years of experience as a professional animal trainer, she has worked with a diverse range of species, including marine mammals, dogs, cats, birds of prey, and parrots. She is a former Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed and has served as a board member for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).
Throughout her career, Starr has lectured and consulted for numerous organizations and animal shelters. Notably, she developed an enrichment program aimed at reducing stress in animals awaiting adoption, leveraging her extensive knowledge of animal behavior and communication.
Additionally, she has created an innovative product called Scent Dots (patent pending), designed to assist in training for avoidance and/or to provide anxiety relief for dogs and cats (scentdots.net.
Jack O’Donnell
Youth Advisor
Jack O’Donnell assists in the integration of technology in fostering the human-animal bond. Emphasizing the impact of technology on future generations, Jack seeks to help younger generations in engaging meaningfully with animals and advocating for understanding communication between species. He works with focus groups on UX/UI and interactive gaming.
Our Board of Advisors
We’re building a trusted group of passionate, talented advisors to help us build our business and future.
Marc Bekoff, PhD
Marc is professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and co-founder with Jane Goodall of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He has won many awards for his scientific research including the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Marc has published more than 1000 essays (popular, scientific, and book chapters), 30 books, and has edited three encyclopedias.
Find out more about Marc at marcbekoff.com
Gali Hagel, J.D.
Gali Hagel is CEO of Hagel Consulting, a nonprofit strategy firm. A former international corporate attorney, she is a long-time animal rights attorney and advocate. She has lectured at California State University Monterey Bay on the subject of interspecies communication, and, as a Board member of a no-kill shelter, has a special interest in the intersection of these two subjects
Find out more about Gali at https://www.futureinreview.com/topics/leaders/gali-hagel/
Denise Herzing, PhD
Denise Herzing is Founder and Research Director of the Wild Dolphin Project, and has been conducting a long-term study of Atlantic spotted dolphins. She has published numerous scientific articles and has appeared in documentaries about her work.
Find out more about Denise at http://www.wilddolphinproject.org/about-us/our-team/
Sharon Anderson Morris, MBA
Sharon Anderson Morris is the programs director for Strategic News Service and SNS Future in Review (FiRe) events; the managing director of FiReFilms, supporting world-changing documentaries from conception through distribution to create positive global awareness and change; and co-founder, producer, and interviewer for the SNS “Future in Review” Speaker Series in Utah, hosted by Impact Hub Salt Lake City and sponsored by USTAR. Sharon is also on the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Technology Task Force and the Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) team.
Find out more about Sharon at https://www.futureinreview.com/topics/leaders/sharon-anderson-morris/
Thad Starner, PhD
Thad Starner is a Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Technical Lead on Google Glass.
Find out more about Thad at https://www.cc.gatech.edu/home/thad/