Barbara O'Malley Named UA Chief Communications Officer

Akron, Ohio, March 26, 2008 — The University of Akron's Board of Trustees today approved President Luis M. Proenza's recommendation to hire Barbara O'Malley as the University's associate vice president for communications and chief communications officer. In this position, O'Malley will lead University-wide external and internal communications, marketing and public relations efforts.

"Barbara's impressive record of achievement in marketing and communications most certainly will further help us position The University of Akron as the research university for Northern Ohio and a very appealing destination for outstanding students, faculty and external partners," Proenza says.

O'Malley says she is pleased to be joining UA. “The University of Akron offers a tremendous opportunity to create awareness on a national and international level of top-ranked programs, including those in science and engineering and how these programs generate knowledge to enhance the quality of life across the globe," she says. "There appear to be many opportunities in which the University partners with local, regional and national constituents. I'm looking forward to enhancing those relationships.”

Since 2004, O'Malley has been executive director of marketing and communications at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. In that position, she oversaw an integrated marketing and communications approach that positioned the university as a leader locally, regionally and nationally.

Prior to that, O'Malley spent nearly 20 years in the marketing and communications field, working for national companies such as Stamats, William M. Mercer Inc. and MCI WorldCom. Her areas of expertise include marketing, brand marketing, internal and external communications, marketing research and change management.

O'Malley earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Denver and a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from Black Hills State University in South Dakota.

She will assume her new role in Akron May 1.

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