Most people never see the work that keeps a university moving. They don’t see the steno pad filled with follow-ups, the 5 a.m. texts before a board meeting, or the snacks carefully stocked to match the preferences of visiting donors and leaders. They don’t see the hours spent coordinating 30-plus calendars to land on a single meeting time.
At Chapman, many of those quiet details trace back to one person: Denise Vejar.
For nearly 13 years, Vejar has served as executive assistant in University Advancement, supporting senior leaders and working closely with trustees, donors, and the President’s Office. The work calls for discretion, warmth, and the ability to keep dozens of moving pieces in her head at once. She has become a trusted point of connection for the people who help move the university forward.
“Denise is such a special person who embodies what being part of the Chapman Family is all about,” said President Matt Parlow. “She never has a bad day, and if she ever does, you wouldn’t know it because she is the consummate professional.”
Vejar has worked alongside several senior leaders in University Advancement, beginning with former Executive Vice President Sheryl Bourgeois and later supporting Parlow for four years when he served as EVP and Chief Advancement Officer before his presidency. She now supports Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Jessica Berger.
She has helped orchestrate board meetings, donor events, and even complex travel — managing minute-by-minute details that allow leaders to focus on building relationships. The work has given her a front-row seat to the partnerships that have propelled the university’s growth.
“The job is to make my executive’s job easier in every way possible,” Vejar said. “It is definitely a service-oriented role, and you have to have that type of personality.”
From Bank Teller to Boardroom
Vejar grew up in Buena Park and got her start as a bank teller right after high school. Two weeks in, a manager noticed her typing speed and promoted her. She eventually became the branch secretary before being recruited to serve as an office manager for a leasing company. Later roles in corporate offices, including ConAgra and property management companies, sharpened her ability to anticipate executives’ needs before they were spoken.
“She cares about people, that’s the wonderful thing about her, she wants to help,” said Irving M. Chase, a trustee who has known Vejar for about 15 years. “Anything you need, you can call her, and she will make it happen.”
Vejar’s influence reaches beyond executive offices and boardrooms.
More Than a Mentor
For Lauren Kirwan ’17, Vejar was a mentor, a comforting presence during the ups and downs of college life, and the person who first showed her how to navigate a professional workspace.
“She was like a mom to me,” said Kirwan, who worked for Vejar in the UA office for two years. “She helped me with everything — breakups, my first speeding ticket. When you’re in college, you don’t even know how to live life on your own, and she was just there.”
Kirwan, who transferred to Chapman as a commuter student, credits Vejar with helping her feel connected to campus. Vejar encouraged her to become a student ambassador, introduced her to trustees and senior leaders, and taught her the basics of professional life — from writing polished emails to carrying herself with confidence in high-level meetings. Years later, Kirwan credits Vejar with helping secure her first job after graduation and still lists her as a reference.
Vejar learned early the value of showing up for others. Before she was supporting university leaders, Vejar was raising three daughters on her own. She arrived at Chapman after years in the corporate world and a health setback that forced her to start over. Today, she treasures time with her three daughters and five-year-old grandson, Hunter, whom she calls her world, and her extended family — including three nieces and two nephews, all of whom are Chapman alumni. She credits her family with keeping her grounded.
Today, she walks to campus from her home in Chapman housing in Orange. She also helped bring together executive assistants across campus, forming a group they call the Real Executive Assistants of Chapman University — a playful nod to the “Real Housewives” franchise. Once a year, they gather for lunch and a photo, oranges in hand.
The relationships she has developed — especially with her colleague Kristi Deschenes, special projects manager in University Advancement, who has worked side by side with Vejar for 13 years — are what make her job special.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to call this place my home away from home,” Vejar said. “It’s like an extended family.”
It’s a sentiment her colleagues are quick to return.
“Denise approaches her work with thoughtful care and every relationship with a lot of heart,” said Jessica Berger, executive vice president and chief advancement officer. “She is truly a special person and a gift to Chapman.”