By Bessie King

After months of searching, two high-profile administrators have been added to the Northeastern community. The university has hired a new vice president for marketing and communications and a new dean of the school of business, administrators said.

Brian Kenny, vice president for marketing and communications, who began work at Northeastern Monday, will be responsible for leading the departments of public relations, special events, Web services, publications, the university magazine and the Northeastern Voice.

Kenny will be faced with the task of capitalizing on Northeastern’s ad campaign where former Vice President Sandra King left off nine months ago.

“I think Northeastern’s done such a good job in the last few years at marketing itself in a positive way,” Kenny said. “I think the priority right now is to continue to build on the excitement that’s been here for the last few years.”

Kenny was chosen as the new vice president due to his extended experience in the corporate world, said Christine Phelan, assistant director of communications and public relations.

The former director of admissions and media relations at Boston University, Kenny has experience in various areas including higher education, professional services and higher technology.

“We are thrilled he is here,” Phelan said. “The position had been vacant for some months and now it’s great to have new ideas and new energy around, everyone is excited.”

Kenny will also be assisting the University Relations department in hiring a director, a position that has been virtually vacant since January when former director Ed Klotzbier was named to his new position as vice president for student affairs.

Kenny said he hopes to find somebody who has well-rounded skills.

“We’re clearly looking for somebody who can help us tell the Northeastern story in a larger way, in a more national way,” Kenny said.

In addition to Kenny’s position, the university will welcome Dean Thomas Moore of the College of Business Administration to the staff Aug. 16.

“We thought he was the best person for the job because of his experience building graduate programs and executive programs, which we have not been as good at as we would like to be,” said Gloria Barczak, associate professor in the College of Business and member of the search committee.

Moore has 25 years of experience in the higher education area. He served as vice president of executive education and corporate programs at Babson College. He was also dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson for seven years and led the restructuring of their MBA program. Some students said they hope Moore continues to work with the same enthusiasm at Northeastern.

“I would like to see more research done to keep students up to date with the business world as well as having a better IT infrastructure with a wireless building and revamping of the college,” said Mark Perry, a graduate accounting student.

The College of Business has recently faced problems with students feeling frustrated with the way some classes or programs are marketed, said middler business major and search committee member Allyson Savin. She said by hiring Moore, the student perspective of marketing will improve and student concerns will be listened to.

“I had a chance to meet Dean Moore and I am very impressed with him because it looked like he was excited to get feedback from us and improve the college both academically and as a network,” said Grant Oberg, a sophomore business and economics major. “I hope this becomes true.”

Dean Moore is on vacation until he starts work on Aug. 16 and could not be reached for comment.