WVU Reed School of Media and Communications alumnus Eric Winkfield was named to PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 in 2025, an exceptional honor, especially for someone still relatively early in his career.
“It felt great to be chosen for the 40 Under 40 list,” said Winkfield, the vice president group manager at M Booth and M Booth Health. “I was a bit surprised at first, because it came much sooner in my career than I expected. I was just focused on the work. When my company endorsed me for the award, and then I got it, it was a career milestone achieved.”
M Booth is a public relations agency, with M Booth Health focusing specifically on healthcare-based communications campaigns. Winkfield has been with the organization for more than five years and is the company’s inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader. Within M Booth, he has shaped internal policy and strategy to increase diversity, and he has counseled clients on how to embrace more inclusive practices.
“We have to get back to the relationship part of public relations, and that's what gets me excited about coming to work every day,” he said.
Winkfield received a master’s degree from WVU’s online Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program, which boasts an impressive list of practitioner faculty who bring industry knowledge to the classroom. The IMC program is also designed for working professionals. Students from all over the country contribute their unique perspectives and work experiences to class discussions.
“The professors had experience in industry that I knew was going to be valuable to help me show up differently, so I really leaned into that. I took the time to get to know the faculty and enjoyed being in my cohort,” Winkfield said.
Having access to mentors and peers with diverse experiences helped prepare Winkfield for the unique situations he would encounter when he left the classroom and entered the corporate world.
“One of the WVU mantras while I was there was ‘Mountaineers go first,’ and so I have lived and embodied that throughout my professional career,” he said. “Going first doesn't always mean you have to get everything right, but that you're willing to put yourself out there. You're willing to try things and to chart a new path for the sake of creating better spaces and opportunities for others.”
The public relations industry is always changing, and it needs leaders who can embrace change and adapt, said Winkfield. While technology advances and methods evolve, at its core, public relations is always about effective and ethical storytelling.
“The best stories live within the tension between what the data says and what people’s lived experiences show. Because two things can be true. I don't make decisions for my clients, but I do help them understand the landscape. What are the opportunities? What are the risks? Then, I help them navigate those decisions,” he said.
The PRWeek 40 Under 40 selection committee considers each nominee’s contributions to the industry, both in their workplace and outside their 9-to-5, taking into account campaigns they’ve worked on, impacts they’ve had on their workplace and participation in industry-related associations and programs. Winkfield joined a 2025 class of PR leaders who are innovative, committed to the social good and who value equity and inclusion.
“Knowing the folks with whom I joined the ranks of 40 Under 40, I feel like we have a pretty good handle on what comes next for the future of this industry,” Winkfield said. “To me, the 40 Under 40 recognition means the industry has embraced and accepted the fact that I am one of the future leaders to carry us forward.”
Outside work, Winkfield is a member of the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media Visiting Committee, which supports recruitment, fundraising, student experience and connections to alumni and industry professionals.
“Being that connection between industry and academia is really important to me, and something I've been honored to do,” said Winkfield.
In addition to serving on the Visiting Committee, Winkfield teaches courses as an adjunct professor in the IMC program, has returned to campus to speak as part of the annual Integrate Conference and provides mentorship to students in the Reed School.
“The Reed School is a hidden gem,” Winkfield said. “I’m always impressed by the students’ ambitions and big dreams. Embrace the journey of discovering the impact you hope to leave in this industry and don't be discouraged if it doesn't come as quickly as you might have hoped. Just keep in mind you're in a process and trust that process.”
“Stay tenacious, but also do it with your values intact. Have values, have morals, have ethics,” he continued. “That is what's going to keep our profession not only relevant, but also help us continue to bring people together. Because right now, more than ever, we need to bring people together.”
For more information on the WVU Reed School and the College of Creative Arts and Media, visit creativeartsandmedia.wvu.edu and follow @wvuccam and @wvumediaschool on social media. Learn more about the PRWeek 40 Under 40 and see a full list of the 2025 inductees at https://www.prweek40under40.com.