When Theresa Major Payton ’89 stood at the podium at Immaculata University’s 101st Commencement this past May, she wasn’t just there to celebrate the graduates — she was there to help shape the University’s future. During the commencement ceremony, Immaculata formally announced the launch of the Major-Payton School of Business: a bold, future-focused academic unit funded by Theresa and her husband, Chris Payton.
The moment marked a full-circle experience for Major-Payton, who credits Immaculata as the place where her remarkable journey began. During the commencement ceremony, she was honored with the Immaculata Medal—the University’s highest honor.
“In my mind, behind every medal winner is their fabulous family and their friends! I could not do what I do without the love and support of my family and I give all the glory to God,” Major Payton said.
“Immaculata University, rooted in faith, pushed me to think differently and lead with heart. Helping build its future through the Major-Payton School of Business is a true joy—preparing the next generation to embrace game-changing technologies, for example AI, in education and work, guided by ethics and faith,” she continued.
More Than a School — A Launchpad
The Major-Payton School of Business will serve as the home for all undergraduate and graduate business and leadership programs at the University and will prepare students for the real world, starting now.
Major Payton will help shape the school’s strategic vision, working closely with University leadership and the IHM Sisters to ensure programs align with the University’s mission and the evolving business landscape.
The new business school prepares ethical, service-oriented leaders for the global business landscape by blending technical skill, ethical leadership and a heart for service, with a focus on critical and fast-evolving areas such as artificial intelligence and global trade.
The school offers a transformative education that equips students to innovate, inspire and lead—whether launching startups, advancing nonprofits, serving in managing or executive roles, or creating positive change in their communities.
Immaculata’s faculty members are professionals who have industry experience and bring current industry expertise into the classroom, connecting academic concepts with real-world application. Through hands-on learning opportunities, such as service projects and guided fieldwork, business students strengthen essential skills in analysis, technology and communications.
“The founding of the Major-Payton School of Business marks a transformative moment at Immaculata University. We are deeply grateful to Theresa and her husband, Chris, for their generosity, vision and commitment to shaping the next generation of ethical and innovative business leaders,” said Immaculata University President Barbara Lettiere ’72. “Their support reflects not only a belief in the power of education, but a heartfelt investment in the future of our students, our University and the global community we serve,” Lettiere added.
Meet Theresa Major-Payton: Cybersecurity Trailblazer, Immaculata Alumna
If Major Payton’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s one of the country’s most respected experts in AI strategy, cybersecurity and digital innovation. She’s also a best-selling author, entrepreneur, media commentator and history-maker.
Major Payton became the first woman to serve as chief information officer for the White House, overseeing global IT operations for President George W. Bush and managing cybersecurity at the highest levels of government. Before that, she held executive technology roles at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, leading more than 60 major mergers and introducing early innovations in AI and mobile banking.
After leaving Washington, D.C., she launched Fortalice Solutions, a cybersecurity firm known for tackling everything from data breaches to national security threats. She also co-founded Dark Cubed, a tech startup acquired by Celerium in 2022.
Major Payton’s husband, Chris Payton, brings his own powerhouse resume to the table. A former U.S. Navy surface warfare officer, Payton has spent his career helping organizations build strong, effective teams and is focused on finding and growing the next generation of leaders — the kind of people the new business school aims to prepare. He’s a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and has held senior leadership roles at Bank of America and, currently, Wells Fargo, where he serves as global talent acquisition transformation and innovation.
Now living near Charlotte, North Carolina, with their three children, the Payton’s are living proof of what’s possible when talent meets mission. And now, they’re passing that torch to the next generation.
