Our Team

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.

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.

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.

Adam Hailstone, Chief Operating 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.

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 Information Technology systems and processes 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.

Riley Trembath, Chief Marketing Officer

Bio coming soon.

Kim Stanley, Chief Financial Officer

Bio coming soon.

Rob Noorda, Chief Academics Officer

Bio coming soon.

Renee Smith, Chief Growth Officer & Williamsburg Academy Private School Headmaster

As a parent, you care deeply about your student’s education—and you want it to be more than just academics. You want it to spark growth, curiosity, and purpose. Renee gets that, because she’s lived it on both sides: as an education leader and as a homeschooling mom.

Renee has spent her career helping students thrive in the environments that fit them best. She’s worked in public, private, charter, and homeschool settings—always with a heart for families and a passion for personalized learning. Whether she’s founding a bilingual microschool, cocreating education software, or advising early-stage ventures, Renee brings a blend of vision and practicality that helps learners flourish.

She holds a master’s degree in education and has collaborated with educators, families, and innovators across the country to design programs that put students first. But of all her roles, homeschooling her daughters has taught her the most—about what students truly need to grow and thrive.

Now, as Headmaster at Williamsburg, Renee is thrilled to walk alongside your family and support your student’s journey—one full of connection, purpose, and possibility.