Brenan Hillis graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science in 2024. He is now working on his master's degree in business administration. Hillis is currently ENMU’s student body president and is an active alumnus of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. 

Hillis was born in Texas where he lived until he was seven years old, when he and his family moved to Clovis, NM. After graduating from Clovis High School, he enrolled at ENMU. "I like that everyone knows everyone, I’m able to feel close to home here,” he said.  During his time as a student, Hillis has taken on service and leadership roles to expand his skills beyond the classroom. 

Hillis is no stranger to the world of agriculture. "I grew up around livestock my whole life, it was something I knew,” he said. Hillis has always enjoyed working with livestock and the physical labor it entails. However, he is more interested in the business side of the trade. "I am getting my master’s so I can learn more about how to properly manage and run a business," he said.  Hillis's goal after graduating with his MBA is to become the Chief Operations Officer for an agricultural business in Texas. 

Outside of classes, Hillis is the ENMU Student body President. He credits Reydecel Coss, director of Campus Life, for encouraging him to pursue the position of student body president and encouraging his pursuit of a master's degree. The experience that Hillis is gaining from being student body president has helped him learn how to communicate to others more effectively and work through disagreements he might have with others. 

Hillis' time in Kappa Sigma helped encourage him to take on more leadership positions. While he was an active collegiate, he was the assistant treasurer and the assistant secretary which taught him how to be helpful to authority figures in his fraternity. Hillis hopes that both his time as student body president and his time in Kappa Sigma will help him in his future career. 

Being at ENMU has helped Hillis see his potential and he has been able to grow within the Portales’ community. He encourages students interested in pursuing an agricultural degree to not be afraid to ask professors questions, "I have seen the professors here really go out of their way to help students,” he said. Dr. Kalynn Baldock, assistant professor of agriculture and the department chair of Agriculture, was a mentor to Hillis during his undergraduate years. "She helped me stay on top of my assignments and was a great mentor,” he said. 

When Hillis is not in classes, or busy with being the student body president, he enjoys being with his friends, his girlfriend Emma, and watching marvel movies. Hillis plans on graduating with his MBA in May 2025.