NewsJanuary 27 2025

Maria Sexton Named Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., January 27, 2025 — The University of Tennessee Medical Center is proud to announce the appointment of Maria Sexton as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO). A highly accomplished leader with extensive expertise in information technology, information security, risk, compliance and IT audit, Sexton is well-positioned to drive innovation and enhance the medical center’s IT capabilities.

Sexton has held senior IT leadership roles at several notable organizations, including University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC), MGM Resorts International, Kellogg Company and Walgreens. Most recently, she served as CIO at UMC, where she oversaw the delivery of technology services and support to a 541-bed academic medical center and the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, managed all aspects of the Information Security Program and provided strategic guidance on the organization’s technology capabilities.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maria to our executive leadership team,” said Benjamin Cunningham, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “Her dynamic leadership style, wealth of experience and commitment to excellence make her the perfect fit to advance our mission, vision and values.”

As CIO, Sexton will oversee all aspects of the medical center’s IT operations, leading a dedicated team to deliver cutting-edge technology solutions that improve patient outcomes, optimize workflows and enhance security and compliance.

Sexton earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She also holds multiple certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).