Wesley K. Stafford was born in Chicago, Illinois. Wess has served on Compassion International's Board of Directors since 1993, when he became Compassion's president. His educational background includes a diploma from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, a BA in Communications (magna cum laude) from Biola University in La Mirada, California, a MA in Communications from Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Wess has served the ministry of Compassion International since 1977, when he was first employed as a field worker in the country of Haiti. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Black Forest, Colorado. They have two children, Jenny and Katie.