Blake Mills has always strived to further his understanding of servant leadership, leading by serving others. The Center Point, Texas native has spent his time at Texas Tech University accordingly, by enveloping himself in opportunities such as the next-level leadership institute, the Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement.

Mills started this journey into leadership before he was even aware of it, when he joined his local FFA chapter in eighth grade.

“I showed market and breeding pigs as like my [supervised agricultural experience] projects,” Mills said of his initial FFA involvement.

Blake possesses the desire to be an effective and impactful leader, which is evident in the kind of leadership development opportunities he has sought thus far in his academic career.

Lindsay Kennedy

It wasn’t until a new advisor came to the program that Mills truly took advantage of what FFA had to offer in leadership opportunities. He eventually ran for state office and was elected state president of the Texas FFA in 2020.  

“I’m extremely grateful for having the opportunity to be a state officer and take a gap year from college to solely commit my focus to being state president. I believe the impact I was able to have on students was much larger since I was also not having to focus on school,” explained Mills.

Mills has also found himself serving in the third cohort class of the prestigious MILE program. MILE is a three-semester long program with each semester targeting a different aspect of leadership directed by Lindsey Kennedy, Ph.D.

“Blake possesses the desire to be an effective and impactful leader, which is evident in the kind of leadership development opportunities he has sought thus far in his academic career,” Kennedy said.

Mills, now more than ever dedicated to the pursuit of premier leadership, is looking to change his major from plant and soil science to agricultural leadership.

“Leadership is influence on others through service, and through a level of care;” Mills said. “I want to make a career through serving others and I believe that changing my major is the first step on that journey.”