Ben DeSpain, a 30-year university and public school administrator, was appointed by the board of trustees following a four-month search.

DeSpain, 63, is dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin, a 6,000-student university northeast of Memphis.

He was among three finalists recommended by a search committee that included faculty and students. The committee considered 60 applicants.

DeSpain said Tuesday he is looking forward to the challenge of restoring public confidence in the Marietta university, which lost accreditation of its chiropractic program in October after a failed appeal.

"I've been blessed with the demeanor and the skills to function at a higher level of efficiency in a crisis situation," he said. "The mission is to not only survive this crisis, but move on to bigger and better things in the future."

In June, the Arizona-based Council on Chiropractic Education revoked accreditation of the university's largest degree program, triggering an exodus of nearly 2,000 students. About 800 chiropractic students remain this week at the university, a spokesman said, down from 2,600 in June. Another 600 students are enrolled in bachelor's and master's degree programs.

The accreditation problems resulted in the resignation of Life founder and President Sid Williams.

The university annually contributes about $100 million to the Cobb County economy.

DeSpain's lack of experience in chiropractic education is not an issue, said Charles Ribley, a Michigan chiropractor who leads the university trustees. "He has a strong academic background. He has vision and energy. He's a problem solver."

"Being the president of Life University doesn't require you to have a chiropractic background."

DeSpain plans to meet with students Friday, and visit the campus frequently before beginning full-time in January.

His career goal, he said, was to become a university president. He spent more than 20 years in public school administration as principal or superintendent, before moving into university positions eight years ago.

Fourteen years ago, he filed a $2 million federal lawsuit against a public school system in Louisiana that had fired him as superintendent, the Baton Rouge State Times reported. DeSpain said Tuesday he was fired because he had objected to improper activity by board members and had notified a federal prosecutor. He received a settlement, DeSpain said Tuesday.

DeSpain holds a master's degree in education from Arkansas State University and a doctorate of education from the University of Memphis, with an emphasis in community college and higher education administration. He was raised on a farm in the Ozarks region of Missouri.