Chapa began her career as a student trainee at the South Texas Refuge Complex. After graduating, she joined the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), where she worked for 14 years in various capacities. Her first position with the USFWS was as a Wildlife Refuge Specialist in Texas in 2007. She was promoted to Assistant Refuge Manager in Crystal River, Florida, in 2010, overseeing teams while continuing to contribute to wildlife research and awareness. She then returned to Texas as the Refuge Manager, working for seven years before moving to Alaska as a Wildlife Refuge Specialist in 2020.

In 2021, she started a new position in Alaska as the Natural Resources Director at the Orutsararmiut Native Council, further building and applying her management, stakeholder engagement, and critical thinking skills. She then transitioned to her current role as Self-Governance Director, working to protect the self-determination and sovereignty of the Tribe and advocate for the needs of tribal citizens.