The University of Akron will expand its public relations initiatives with two new associate vice presidents.Eileen Korey, former vice president of communications for the Metro­Health System in Cleveland, will be chief communications officer. Advertising executive Wayne R. Hill will lead marketing. Each will make $170,000 a year.They will replace Barbara O’Malley, who was paid $143,420 to oversee communications and marketing before taking a similar post at Webster University in St. Louis last spring.UA President Luis Proenza signaled that change was in the wind with his annual State of the University address Monday.“Because the university’s accomplishments are growing and should be recognized widely, we will accelerate our momentum through enhanced marketing and communication’s initiatives,” he said, and did not elaborate.On Wednesday, Proenza said it was essential to market the good news about the university to wider audiences.He said Korey and Hill had complementary skills that would enable the university to take “the natural next step.”“When we look at the national scene, we’ve made some inroads but hardly enough. We need to move into a broader statewide and regional market,” Proenza said.Korey, 56, has been an independent consultant and project manager since leaving MetroHealth in March. Before that, she oversaw public relations at University Hospitals and was a reporter at WKYC-TV, both in Cleveland. Her bachelor’s degree is from Princeton University.In 2008, she was a finalist for the job of vice president of university relations at Kent State.Hill, 61, is chairman of the Cleveland Film Commission and Cleveland Foodbank, owner of Woodwalk Reputation Group in Brecksville and former president of Edward Howard, a public relations firm. He became executive vice president when the company was acquired by Fahlgren Mortine in 2010.Before going into advertising, he was communications director for Anthony Celebrezze Jr., who was Ohio secretary of state and attorney general and ran for governor. Hill’s bachelor’s degree is from Hiram College.Starting Monday, Korey and Hill will oversee a total of 12 full-time employees.Carol Biliczky can be reached at cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3729.