The Life Chiropractic College West Board of Regents has officially announced Dr. Marilyn Al-Hassan as interim president of the college. The Oct. 1, 2026 announcement also notes that Dr. Peter Kevorkian, who was placed on administrative leave in August only 14 months after assuming the presidency, “is no longer with the College.” Dr. Al-Hassan has been serving as interim president since then, but the board limited its outreach to the Life West community until now.
“The best interests of our College and students must always remain the priority,” said Dr. Al-Hassan,” whose Life West tenure includes service as executive vice president, chief strategy officer and most recently, chief academic officer, in the release. “We have important work ahead of us, and I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners to strengthen Life West and build on the many things we do well.”
“Dr. Al-Hassan brings exactly the combination of experience, institutional knowledge and steady leadership that Life West needs at this important time,” added Dr. Jimmy Nanda, chair of the Life West Board of Regents. “She knows our students, faculty and staff, brings experience leading institutions through periods of transition and change, understands the accreditation environment, and has a strong record of strategic, academic and administrative leadership grounded in integrity.”
As of press time, Life West has not publicly announced if and when an official search for a permanent president will commence – or whether Dr. Al-Hassan will be under consideration for the position, with or without consideration of other candidates.
The announcement is the second in two weeks by the Life West Board of Regents as it navigates a series of accreditation, financial and leadership challenges facing the college. On Sept. 18, the board welcomed Dr. Jeanna Mastrodicasa as a new board member, “adding nearly three decades of higher education experience to the College’s governing board.” Dr. Mastrodicasa comes to Life West from the University of Florida, where she served as assistant provost and director of institutional assessment within the Office of Accreditation, Assessment and Curriculum.
For background on Life West’s recent struggles, read our web exclusive, “Chiropractic Colleges in Crisis” (which has been updated to reflect these changes), here.
