Ulmus Academy hires Quincy native as new headmaster

Ulmus Academy has announced the appointment of Jason Watkins as its new headmaster.

After a three-year-long search for a permanent headmaster, the Ulmus Academy board unanimously voted to hire Watkins.

In a press release, founder and director Jennifer Wiemelt said, “Jason’s personality, years of experience in management, teaching background and outside-the-box thinking combine to make him the best choice to take Ulmus to new heights.”

Watkins was born and raised in Quincy and is an alumnus of St. Mary’s (1997) and Quincy Notre Dame (2001). After graduation, he joined the United States Army OSUT (2001). He went on to pursue an extensive academic career, which included JWCC (2005), Western Illinois University (2007), and Keller Graduate School of Management (2022). He holds a master’s in human resource management and is an educational doctorate candidate for 2026.

Watkins is on the board of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and Adams County Veterans Assistance Commission.

Currently, he is the founder of Strategic Management Consulting and is an adjunct professor at Quincy University, Oakley School of Business.

The board feels his experience gives him a unique perspective, which will be a huge benefit to the fast-growing academy.