GOODBYE PROFESSOR KREBS
GOODBYE PROFESSOR KREBS
Professor Josh Krebs is known on Neumont’s campus for a multitude of reasons, including his infectious energy, love of llamas, and most importantly, his unparalleled passion for guiding and inspiring our students. For the past 13 years, he’s been an integral part of our community–first as a student, then as an instructor.
Josh Krebs
As a young kid living in California, Josh had a knack for gadgets and electronics. It was a mere hobby until his first job as a data analyst that he realized he could make a career out of his love of computer science. This led to his big leap of leaving California and moving his family to Utah in 2008 to attend Neumont College of Computer Science. Josh explained there were no other colleges that met his educational aspirations; a curriculum teaching current technologies, a hands-on academic model, and a structure allowing him to graduate in just three years.
Josh Krebs presenting at a recruitment event.
Josh’s appetite for tech carried him through to graduation after which he began working at Navitaire Inc. specializing in both front-end and back-end development. Shortly thereafter he began teaching as an adjunct professor at Neumont, then quickly transitioned to teaching full-time. He said the option to transition from working in industry to being a full-time faculty member was an easy decision to make because, “Neumont promotes a genuinely positive and healthy community environment. They know how to teach because they truly understand what it takes to learn and are able to produce graduates who know how to solve problems independently.”
Over the course of his nine-year teaching career, Josh taught courses predominantly in the computer science degree path, but just as Neumont’s curriculum evolved, so did he. Josh was able to seamlessly branch out and teach courses in both web and game development as well. He was also well known for his compassion and advocacy towards the student body. He went on to say, “The most rewarding thing about teaching at Neumont was watching young adults discover the truth of their potential. Watching another person grow and evolve right before your eyes provides a depth of fulfillment I've rarely found anywhere else.”
Josh Krebs meeting his first llama on campus.
While he will always be commended for his charisma in the classroom, his students won’t forget his support of making a llama Neumont’s mascot. The origin of our beloved llama dates back to 2009 when Neumont held a poll to select a mascot. Our clever students took it upon themselves to add a write-in option: a llama. This prank ignited the underground llama movement on campus where Josh continually kept the topic buzzing over a decade later. Today, our students have welcomed a llama as their unofficial mascot.
Josh Krebs at Commencement 2019.
Part of Neumont’s successful formula is hiring instructors who have been in the roles our students aspire to fill. Industry experience is key to teaching relevant practices, which is why Josh made the decision to go back into industry. He recently accepted a position as a software engineer with Artium Technologies in Silicon Valley.
Professor Josh Krebs will always be a member of the Neumont family and sorely missed in our community. His teachings truly embodied our mission statement: Improving lives through education, and we know he will excel in his next chapter.