Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Will Chapman attended public schools in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he grew up. He holds a BA in Classics from Brown University and an MA in Regional Studies-East Asia (China) from Harvard University. He has studied French, German, Mandarin, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Spanish, and most recently Italian.

Currently Vice President of Ricardo Barreto Cultural Consultants, he has had careers in international banking with Citibank, music retailing with HMV, and arts administration with Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Boston, Monadnock Music, and Opera Lafayette, where he was General Manager.

In July of 2017 he became founding chairman of the Guadalajara chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico. He was elected chairman of Democrats Abroad Mexico in March 2019. Under his leadership, Democrats Abroad Mexico has experienced significant membership and fundraising growth, a vastly increased media profile, and added a new chapter in Yucatan.

He is married to Ricardo Barreto, a native of Guadalajara with dual US - Mexican citizenship. They live in central Guadalajara and also in Colonia Seattle, Zapopan with their dog, Erasmo.