Ohio State president resigns after ‘inappropriate relationship’ with ‘someone seeking public resources’
The Ohio State University President, Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., has stepped down after telling the Board of Trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship, ending a brief, two-year stint at the helm of the state’s flagship higher education institution.
According to reports, Carter, 66, offered to resign after he “recently disclosed to trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.” In a statement, the school said it would “share additional information about the transition in the coming days.”
The Board of Trustees appointed Carter, who was president of the University of Nebraska from 2020 to 2023, as The Ohio State University’s 17th president on August 22, 2023. He resigned following a rare three-hour board executive session on March 7; his contract was supposed to run through 2028.
“For personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as president of The Ohio State University. I disclosed to the board of trustees that I made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership,” Carter said in a statement shared by the university.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Matt Englehart, a spokesperson for JobsOhio, said the woman Carter may have had a relationship with was also the host of “The Callout,” a JobsOhio-sponsored podcast geared toward veterans. The report identified the host as Krisanthe Vlachos.
The Columbus newspaper contacted Vlachos for comment, but apparently did not receive a response. Ohio State Spokesperson Ben Johnson told WBNS-TV that someone outside the university approached the board about the relationship, prompting Carter’s offer to resign.
“JobsOhio supports a variety of workforce initiatives to educate and attract veterans about the excellent job opportunities and quality of life in Ohio,” JobsOhio said in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch.
According to WCMH-TV, no university president has left the post to retire since 1981. Carter’s predecessor, Kristina M. Johnson, resigned on May 7, 2023, after the Board of Trustees asked her to step down amid allegations of a contentious relationship with several board members.
“This is OSU’s third president since 2020,” Jennifer Tisone Price, executive director of the Ohio conference of the American Association of University Professors, said in a statement to the Associated Press. “If the university wants to do better with the next one, it must have a transparent hiring process that honors shared governance which includes the input from faculty. Shared governance isn’t just a bureaucratic nicety. It’s how universities stay honest.”
The Associated Press reported that the OSU Board gave him a merit raise of more than $50,000 in August. That raise is on top of his $1.1 million annual salary and a nearly $400,000 bonus.
School presidents are also provided a residence at a roughly $3.6 million mansion in an upscale Columbus suburb, the Associated Press reported.
“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously,” Ohio State Board of Trustees Chair John Zeiger said in a letter accepting Carter’s resignation. “We respect your decision and appreciate your cooperation in supporting an orderly leadership transition.”
Carter’s resignation adds to a growing list of woes for OSU, ranging from paying more than $60 million to settle claims filed by more than 100 survivors of sexual abuse by former Ohio State physician Richard Strauss to the controversy over prominent alumnus and former trustee Les Wexner’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender. The relationship has led to calls to remove Wexner’s name from university and health system facilities, and more than 100 plaintiffs still have litigation pending.
For its part, JobsOhio has faced allegations of operating “behind a wall of secrecy, using public dollars without the oversight Ohio taxpayers deserve.” Experts have questioned the efficacy of the tax credits JobsOhio has doled out over the years.
The Ohio State University Announcement
The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has accepted President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s resignation. The president recently disclosed to trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business, and offered to resign. The board appreciates the president’s contributions to the university over the last two years. The Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan, rising national rankings, growth in research expenditures and multiple new scholarship programs, along with the team the president assembled, have elevated Ohio State’s position as a national leader. Ohio State will share additional information about the transition in the coming days.
Former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. Statement
“For personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as president of The Ohio State University. I disclosed to the board of trustees that I made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.
“I believe we have made much progress during my time at Ohio State, and I’m sorry I’m not able to remain your president longer. The students, faculty and staff at this university are among the very best in the world, and the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan has Ohio State poised to succeed for years to come.
“I have enjoyed a strong working relationship with the board of trustees, and I’m grateful for their support and guidance.
“Lynda and I leave Ohio State with gratitude and appreciation for this wonderful community. It has been an honor to serve as this university’s 17th president, and we wish the university ongoing success.”
