New chief takes reins at Life
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Marietta Daily Journal Staff
Writer
MARIETTA - Life University President Dr. Ben DeSpain has resigned at the urging
of the school's Board of Trustees after little more than a year at the helm of
the troubled chiropractic college, university officials announced Thursday.
The university's Board of Trustees voted to replace DeSpain with Dr. Guy
Riekeman, the former chancellor of the Palmer Chiropractic University System,
once considered Life's chief rival in the world of chiropractic colleges.
The Davenport, Iowa-based Palmer maintains three chiropractic colleges in Iowa,
Florida and California and is also the alma mater of Life founder and former
president Dr. Sid Williams, who was ousted from the school two years ago
following its loss of accreditation.
"It's an exciting time for chiropractic and for alternative healthcare," said
the 54-year-old Riekeman, who resigned from Palmer last month. "I think Life
University is at the head of that new push in alternative healthcare."
Life has lost more than 2,000 students in recent years, from about 3,600 in 2001
to about 1,200 today. The school is also more than $30 million in debt.
Williams stepped down as Life president in July 2002 after the Arizona-based
Council on Chiropractic Education stripped the school of its accreditation
because of questions about his operation of the school.
In February 2003, a federal court temporarily restored Life's accreditation. But
the threat still exists that the CCE could deny Life's request for accreditation
when the school reapplies for its credentials in 2005.
In addition, Life's accreditation remains on probation with the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools.
Riekeman said his top priorities would be to correct the university's budget
problems, search for a vice-president for academic affairs and work to increase
enrollment.
And while Riekeman has his own plans for the school, the change in leadership
will not affect plans with the Southern Polytechnic State University Foundation
to purchase the Life campus, said Board of Trustees Chairman Charles Ribley.
"Life University has signed the papers with Southern Polytechnic, and we're
moving forward," he said.
DeSpain did not return calls for comment about his resignation on Thursday.
Ribley said DeSpain resigned following a "dialogue between the board and the
president."
He said the board decided to go with a leader for Life who was prominent in the
chiropractic community and had the reputation for being "a very strong people
person."
"What we needed to do was bring in a president to reach out to the chiropractic
community and attract students to the school," Ribley said.
DeSpain had no background in chiropractic before coming to Life. The 64-year-old
came from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he served as dean of the
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
Ribley said DeSpain was hired by the board to correct Life's administrative
problems.
After starting in November 2002, DeSpain replaced officials in every university
leadership position ranging from academic department heads to top administrators
appointed by Williams.
"When he came to us, to the board, I believe his comment was that he's a
troubleshooter, that he was not here for the long-term," Ribley said.
He acknowledged that Riekeman's charismatic style could be compared to that of
Williams'.
But, he said, that's where the comparison between the two ends.
Dr. Thomas Klapp, a member of the board of trustees and a chiropractor in
Michigan, agreed.
"The difference between the two men is that Dr. Riekeman is so approachable," he
said. "He does not sit in an ivory tower."
Toward the end of his tenure, Williams made about $900,000 a year in his
position as university president, employing his wife, daughter, relatives and
friends as high-ranking officials.
University officials would not disclose how much Riekeman would make in his new
position, only to say it would be the same as DeSpain's salary.
According the Quad-City Business Chronicle's Book of Lists, Riekeman made almost
$215,000 in 2001 as president of Palmer.
Life University students interviewed Thursday said they liked DeSpain but were
excited that someone with Riekeman's reputation was coming to lead the
university.
"I think (DeSpain) is an excellent person and excellent leader who definitely
helped put us back on track," said Jennifer Hastings, an 11/12th quarter student
who has been at Life for six years.
When Life was struggling, Ms. Hastings said she thought about transferring to
Palmer and was impressed with Riekeman's wiliness to reach out to students.
"I think he will be better because he has a passion for the profession, and when
you have a passion for the profession you can take it so much further," she
said. "Since Dr. DeSpain came along, it's been very positive. And now with
(Riekeman), it's getting even better."
Robin Heaton, who has been a student at Life off and on since Williams' tenure,
said both Riekeman and DeSpain were an improvement over Williams' approach to
running the school.
"The students didn't feel like they connected with him (Dr. Williams)," she
said. "I think Dr. Riekeman is more in this century."
Riekeman resigned his position as chancellor at Palmer on Feb. 5 after what he
described as "a disagreement in management styles" between he and the board.
He had served as chancellor for eight months and as Palmer's president for five
years before.
The conflict between Riekeman and the board stemmed from a list of changes the
board proposed to put in place at Palmer, including board approval for all
hiring and salary increases, the election of new board members and the hiring of
a consultant requested by the board.
In a statement released Thursday, the Palmer Board of Trustees said the proposed
changes were intended to "improve the flow of information and ensure
accountability" between the board and the president.
The board also stated "there was no intent to force Dr. Riekeman to leave
Palmer."
"We wish him and Life University the very best and anticipate that we will be
able to work together to assure the positive advancement of chiropractic as a
primary health care provider," the statement read.
Before coming to Palmer in 1997, Riekeman served as an x-ray instructor, dean of
philosophy and vice president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic in
Spartanburg, SC.
He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1972 and also studied cinema
and television arts at the University of California, Los Angeles.