GALESBURG, IL, October 3, 2025, Hailey Nicole Winkleman has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Winkleman has established herself as a dynamic force in communications, design and rural advocacy, with a career marked by innovation, leadership and a commitment to community impact. As the founder and owner of Evil Eye Creative Studio since 2019, she has managed a diverse portfolio of responsibilities, including client collaboration across the U.S., digital project management, on-site support and technical assistance at four annual conferences each fall. Ms. Winkleman’s work encompasses photography, videography, live social media coverage and technical troubleshooting for events. She is particularly dedicated to supporting rural advocacy clients in education, managing her team and contracting with several nonprofits to advance their missions. Ms. Winkleman’s expertise extends to proofreading annual reports and providing strategic communications for organizations focused on rural education.
In addition to establishing her studio, Ms. Winkleman has been serving as a communications consultant for both the Arizona Rural Schools Association and the National Rural Education Association since 2024. That same year, she was appointed to serve as the director of communications for the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, where she leads efforts to advocate for rural education policy and community engagement. Furthermore, in 2025, Ms. Winkleman assumed the role of project media manager for the Rural Career and Technical Education Grant at the Regional Office of Education 26. In this capacity, she oversees media strategy and content development to promote educational initiatives in rural communities.
A leader in her field for approximately a decade, Ms. Winkleman’s earlier tenure as a communications consultant for the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools from 2018 to 2023 was instrumental in advancing key legislative initiatives. Notably, she played a pivotal role in the passage of Senate Bill 1787 in Illinois in 2023, which established the Rural Education Advisory Council. Through grassroots marketing campaigns, encompassing print materials, direct mailings, email outreach and social media, Ms. Winkleman helped secure bipartisan support for this landmark legislation.
In 2023, Ms. Winkleman served as media and advocacy manager for the Rural Schools Collaborative, where she coordinated advocacy campaigns and developed multimedia content to highlight rural education issues. From 2021 to 2023, she was advocacy media coordinator for the organization. Among other noteworthy roles, Ms. Winkleman was a graphic designer for AlterEgo Marketing and a digital media specialist and animator for Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Ms. Winkleman’s academic achievements have been foundational to her professional success. She holds two undergraduate degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, including a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communication design, summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a minor in classical civilization, summa cum laude, both obtained in 2019. Beyond her formal education, she pursued professional development through certifications from LinkedIn Learning by LinkedIn Corporation, enhancing her ability to deliver effective messaging across multiple platforms.
Throughout her career, Ms. Winkleman has maintained active memberships with industry organizations, such as the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, the Arizona Rural Schools Association, and the National Rural Education Association. As a lover of theater, she is also involved with Quad City Music Guild and volunteered for Carmi-White County High School’s Drama Department from 2020-2025. Ms. Winkleman’s civic engagement includes serving as a director of the E. Martin Blackledge Trust since 2020, as the Publicity Officer for the Carmi League of Arts from 2023-2024, and as a board member at large for Pets at Risk Carmi-White County in 2024.
Ms. Winkleman’s creative accomplishments have been recognized with several accolades, such as the Rickert Ziebold Trust Award for Design from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In recognition of her contributions to the passing of the Senate Bill 1787, she received a commemorative award honoring her impact on rural education policy. Looking ahead, Ms. Winkleman remains dedicated to expanding her advocacy work on behalf of rural schools beyond Arizona into additional states. This mission continues to inspire her daily efforts within the field of education communications.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
