
The Global Health Institute’s Global Health Webinar on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 9-10am (CST), featured Carla Vigue, Director of Tribal Relations, UW–Madison, moderates a timely conversation on Building Indigenous Trust & Partnerships for Health.
Vigue leads the discussion with Caleb McGeshick, Councilman II, Sokaogon Chippewa Community (SCC); Jason Neilitz, Chief Information Officer, SCC; Kurt Zimmerman, Senior Director, Biohealth Industry Partnerships, and Director, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program, UW–Madison; and Lauren W. Yowelunh McLester-Davis, Director of Indigenous Science Advocacy, Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Click here to view the recording on our YouTube Channel.
MEET THE MODERATOR:

Carla Vigue is the Director of Tribal Relations at UW–Madison and a citizen of the Oneida Nation. Director Vigue focuses on building and nurturing relationships with the Native Nations of Wisconsin and the organizations and entities created by tribal nations and communities. She leads the university’s initiatives, strategic engagement opportunities, and special projects with tribal nations and affiliated organizations.
With more than twenty years of experience in community affairs and outreach, Director Vigue has devoted her career to building meaningful connections and creating opportunities for tribal communities to thrive. Before joining UW–Madison, Vigue’s experience included advocacy and public relations work on behalf of Native Nations in Washington, D.C. and nationally. In addition to working for the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, she also spent over a decade doing public affairs work for various Wisconsin state agencies.
Vigue advocates for tribes to have a voice at the table, using education to create transformative opportunities for a positive impact. Her commitment is rooted in a fundamental philosophy instilled in her from an early age: the importance of community service, public service, and giving back.
MEET THE PANELISTS:

Caleb McGeshick, Councilman II, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, is a proud Native of Mole Lake, brings a deep connection and unwavering dedication to his community. With roots in Tribal Maintenance, Caleb has long served the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, now contributing as Co-Chair for the partnership between the Tribe and UW-Madison. His leadership focuses on fostering collaboration and advancing opportunities for the community.
An advocate for progress and empowerment, Caleb is passionate about initiatives that uplift Tribal members. He is committed to creating economic stability by generating jobs, enhancing housing infrastructure, and improving educational resources. Through his efforts, Caleb strives to ensure every Tribal member has the tools to succeed.
Beyond his leadership roles, Caleb enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing, and motorcycle riding. He gives back through volunteer work, including Benefit Rides, where he combines his love for community and outdoor activities to make a positive impact. Caleb’s dedication and hands-on approach exemplify his commitment to building a thriving, unified community.

Jason Neilitz, Chief Information Officer, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in technology, tribal enterprises, agriculture, and construction services. As the Chief Information Officer for the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Jason oversees IT operations across 20 Tribal departments, driving innovation, efficiency, and cybersecurity. He has established governance frameworks and proactive support systems, ensuring secure and optimized technology solutions for the organization.
Jason’s expertise extends to strategic planning, team empowerment, and building cross-sector partnerships. His career highlights include implementing cutting-edge IT infrastructures, leading large-scale projects totaling $50M, and founding successful businesses in technology and agriculture. Jason is a recognized thought leader, serving on the Governor’s Digital Summit Board and on the State of WI cybersecurity sub-committee.
Known for his professionalism, creativity, and commitment to excellence, Jason excels in fostering collaboration and motivating teams to achieve organizational success. His innovative approach to integrating technology and business operations has consistently delivered competitive advantages across diverse industries.

Kurt J. Zimmerman, Senior Director, Biohealth Industry Partnerships, leads industry engagement for the School of Medicine and Public Health at UW-Madison. Zimmerman’s portfolio includes management of Conflict of Interest for physicians and faculty and collaborations with UW-Madison’s academic health system, UW Health, in support of medical innovation.
Zimmerman also serves as Director of the Master of Science in Biotechnology Program at UW-Madison, a cross-disciplinary program with nearly 500 alumni and students working across the biotechnology industry.
Zimmerman serves on the leadership team of the Site Accreditation and Standards Institute (SASI), which is affiliated with the Alliance for Clinical Research Excellence and Safety (ACRES). In this role he leads the SASI Quality Accelerator Program, supporting clinical research sites as they move towards accreditation under the first global quality standard for clinical research.

Lauren W. Yowelunh McLester-Davis, Director of Indigenous Science Advocacy, Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), works with NACHP’s Tribal Engagement Office.
McLester-Davis engages youth in science education and leads capacity-building efforts to support tribal institutional review boards, data sovereignty and research engagement with Wisconsin’s tribal nations. She joins the School of Medicine and Public Health with a scientist co-appointment in the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (led by Dr. Carey Gleason) and in Dr. Judith Simcox’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry.
She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), as well as chairs the SACNAS Native American/Indigenous Affairs Committee. McLester-Davis is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation. She received her PhD from Tulane University, where she specialized in neuroscience and community-based participatory research with an emphasis on working for sovereign nations.