staff
Kat identifies as an ex-teacher, full-time educator. After seeing the sadness phones were causing in her students’ lives, Kat developed Dis/connect’s meeting model. Using her 15-years of teaching experience, Kat now helps teens and young adults transform from tech victims into tech leaders in their communities.
Kat Zilka, co-founder & exec director
Dalyn is a full time tech executive. As a technologist, he is interested in the impact phones and mobile devices have on emotional well-being, mental health, and cognition. He believes that understanding this impact and developing the tools needed to create healthy relationships with technology are among the most important problems to solve today.
Dalyn Ward, co-founder & ops
Joseph Dallas Westerfield is passionate about rethinking the way we engage with technology and each other. As Director of Development and Advancement at dis/connect, he works closely with educators to develop meaningful, school-wide strategies that foster focus, balance, and real-world connection. With a background in language education and cultural immersion, he understands the power of presence and intentional communication. Whether training facilitators or collaborating with school leaders, Joseph is dedicated to creating learning environments where students and educators can engage more deeply—with their work, their communities, and themselves.
Joseph Westerfield, development & advancement
Kavon Cortez Jones, facilitator
Kavon Cortez Jones is a Milwaukee-born poet, storyteller, and educator who believes in the power of words to inspire young minds. Mentored by Kwabena Nixon and Muhibb Dyer in seventh grade, he discovered poetry as a tool for self-expression and has been writing ever since. Whether leading workshops or performing in schools, he helps kids recognize the value of their own voices. Through poetry and conversation, Kavon empowers young people to share their stories with confidence.
Dr. Thekla Brumder Ross, clinical health advisor
Dr. Ross is a thought leader at the forefront of the movement to redefine our relationship with technology. She bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday life, helping individuals and organizations reconnect with themselves and one another in an increasingly digital world.
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She serves as Chair of the Digital Harm Reduction Committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is co-author of the forthcoming book It Won’t Love You Back: Letting Go of Our Addiction to Technology.
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More about Dr. Ross here.
intern leaders
Gabbi, a junior in high school, loves to learn new things and help others. Gabbi joined dis/connect so that she can become more in tune with herself, her peers, and Christ. She also hopes that through what she learns in dis/connect she can help other teens learn more about their relationship with their phones. Through dis/connect Gabbi has learned that her relationship with her phone is not something she needs to get rid of, but something she needs to have more control over.
Gabbi, communications
Ethan, strategic partnerships
Ethan is a junior in high school and loves to serve people around him and connect with others. Ethan is involved in dis/connect because of its positive community and how he learns to be more present with the people around him. He hopes to help others manage their relationship with their phone and build habits to make that relationship positive.