Sheryl A. Bourgeois

Sheryl A. Bourgeois is an accomplished executive with over two decades of experience in higher education administration. Sheryl currently serves as a board member at Alzheimer’s Family Center (AFC), and previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer at Chapman University from 1998 to 2021.

During their time at Chapman University, Sheryl played a significant role in the institution’s growth and development. Under their leadership, net assets and endowment grew by more than 300%, student body by 250%, and campus footprint by 155%. The number of schools/colleges grew from 5 to 12, and the university achieved several notable milestones, including Phi Beta Kappa membership, Carnegie Classification of R2, and recruitment of its first Nobel Laureate.

As Executive Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, Sheryl was responsible for leading a multifunctional team of 110 FTEs and managing a $20 million operating budget. Sheryl also oversaw a variety of institutional matters, including advancement and campaign management; strategic branding and reputation building; marketing and communications; parent and alumni engagement; donor relations and stewardship; gift recording and accounting; special events; academic ceremonies; external affairs; and career and professional development. In addition, they served as institutional liaison for board governance. During their tenure, Sheryl helped the university raise close to $1 billion in philanthropic support to advance strategic priorities.

Sheryl’s extensive experience in higher education administration makes their well-

Sheryl A. Bourgeois received their Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. Sheryl then went on to earn their Ph.D. and Masters in Higher Education from Claremont Graduate University.