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Our Team
Meet the Team at Williamsburg Academy
Headmaster
As a parent, you want your student’s education to be more than just studying—you want it to be an exciting and invigorating journey. Ross lives at the intersection of learning and adventure. He has traveled and taught English to students in Syria and Japan, spent years working with youth as both a high school teacher and volunteer mentor, trained employees in a variety of corporate settings, and traveled to more than 30 countries with his wife and five kids. Ross is thrilled to have the chance to make a difference in your student’s life as a mentor.
Ross holds a Bachelor of Business & Economics and Japanese Language & Asian Studies from Monash University in Australia (he is the first “Aussie” mentor on the Williamsburg team!). He continues traveling and world schooling with his family while teaching at Williamsburg. Students often experience the journey with him through classes as he shares stories from where he's living during the school year. Ross also loves playing basketball (and most other sports) and singing and playing guitar with his kids.
Phone: 800-200-6869
Administrative & Support Team Members
John Tripp, LAU Executive Director
As the Executive Director of LAU, John is committed to helping your student thrive in their education. John grew up in Southern Utah, where he often spent his time learning and adventuring in the outdoors. His passion for education grew while attending Brigham Young University and Utah State University. After graduation, John acted on his love of teaching and began working with students from 3rd through 12th grade. He even spent 18 years developing an early college program to help his students navigate the overwhelming road to higher education. John passed on his love of learning to his ten children, and he continues to spark that passion in his eight grandchildren by reading with them regularly. John currently lives in Hyrum, Utah, with his wife, two cats, and a dog. Together, they often spend their time outdoors in the Wellsville mountains.
John Tripp, LAU Executive Director
As the Executive Director of LAU, John is committed to helping your student thrive in their education. John grew up in Southern Utah, where he often spent his time learning and adventuring in the outdoors. His passion for education grew while attending Brigham Young University and Utah State University. After graduation, John acted on his love of teaching and began working with students from 3rd through 12th grade. He even spent 18 years developing an early college program to help his students navigate the overwhelming road to higher education. John passed on his love of learning to his ten children, and he continues to spark that passion in his eight grandchildren by reading with them regularly. John currently lives in Hyrum, Utah, with his wife, two cats, and a dog. Together, they often spend their time outdoors in the Wellsville mountains.
Williamsburg Learning Leadership Team
Click the photos below to see Williamsburg Learning's Executive Team bios.
Nels Peter Jensen
CEO & Co-Founder
Gary Arnell
Chief Technology Officer
Adam Hailstone
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing Officer
Kim Stanley
Chief Financial Officer
Rob Noorda
Chief Academics Officer
Nels Peter Jensen, CEO & Co-Founder
Nels is CEO and Co-Founder of Williamsburg Learning. He is passionate about helping others learn, grow, and transform themselves, their families, and their communities. Nels is working toward the goal of creating millions of transformational learning experiences in the next ten years.
A native of the Rocky Mountains, Nels grew up in Idaho and Utah and has lived and traveled abroad on five continents. He studied the liberal arts as an undergraduate and received an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Acton School of Business in Austin, Texas. A father to five energetic children, Nels loves to coach and support them as they grow into young adults and prepare to lead unique lives of meaning. Personally, he is an dedicated father, avid reader, weight lifter, cyclist and yoga instructor. His deepest purpose is to use his talents to help reduce suffering and elevate consciousness.
Gary Arnell, Chief Technology Officer
Gary’s passion lies in creating reliable and efficient administrative services to simplify and improve your and your student’s Williamsburg experience. Before joining Williamsburg in 2010, Gary worked in software development, project management, and administrative positions for businesses and schools in California and Utah. Today, he oversees the People Operations, Finance, Technology, Registrar, Customer Service, and Communications functions at Williamsburg. Gary is passionate about moral and political philosophy, the liberal arts, and the outdoors. He loves designing systems that support all three in his role at Williamsburg.
Gary completed his undergraduate studies in business and computer science at Utah State University and an M.A. in education from George Wythe University. He lives with his wife, Liesl, and their six children in Cedar City, Utah. Away from work, he enjoys volunteering in his community and spending time with his family—especially if it involves canyoneering, hiking, backpacking, travel, or reading.
Adam Hailstone, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing Officer
Adam is passionate about building a vibrant and expanding community to support your student in their adventure through online learning. In his words, “I love inspiring parents and students to get a great education and overcome the barriers in their way. My role directly aligns with my life’s mission, so it’s as much a calling as it is a career.” Adam joined Williamsburg in 2010 as a mentor, and has designed and taught much of The Williamsburg Curriculum. He has presented talks on alternative education throughout the U.S. and Canada and loves finding creative ways to expand and enhance the Williamsburg tribe.
Adam holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from George Wythe University. He lives with his wife, Laura, of thirteen years and their son Emmett in Denver, Colorado. Adam loves wrestling with his son, hiking, reading, discussing, CrossFit, cinema, and making delicious food for family and friends.
Kim Stanley, Chief Financial Officer
Bio coming soon.
Rob Noorda, Chief Academics Officer
Bio coming soon.
Want to Get in Touch?
Please see our Customer Support page to find department emails, our support phone, and more!
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School Info
Customer Support
800-200-6869
Mailing Address
782 S River Rd. #16
Saint George, UT 84790
School Fax
435-215-7699
Business Hours
Mon-Thurs: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM MT
Friday: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM MT
Closed weekends and holidays