Ohio State President Resigns

Ohio State University President Ted Carter resigned after admitting to the Board of Trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship.

The Meeting

Carter, 66, met with the board on March 7 after an unnamed source reported the relationship to the Board of Trustees, according to university spokesperson Ben Johnson. The board confronted Carter and prompted him to resign after his disclosure. His resignation was accepted.

“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously. We respect your decision and appreciate your cooperation in supporting an orderly leadership transition,” wrote the Ohio State Board of Trustees Chair John Zeiger in a letter accepting the resignation.

‘The Inappropriate Relationship’

According to a statement from the university, Carter admitted: “he had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking state resources to support her personal business.”

The Columbus Dispatch asked the university to clarify the nature of the relationship that led to Carter’s resignation. The university did not share any additional information, and Johnson stated he did not know if the relationship was romantic.

The university is investigating the relationship and any concerns about the use of public resources.

The woman is not associated with Ohio State University.

Carter History at Ohio State

The former university president has been consistently praised by the Board of Trustees during his two-year tenure for providing steady leadership and being an ambassador for the land-grant mission and vision of Ohio State.

In August, the Board approved a 4.5 percent merit raise, totaling $51,233, bringing Carter’s base salary to $1,189,733, in addition to a $398,475 bonus.

During his first year with the university, Carter was on a “listening and learning” tour, speaking with students, staff, and faculty, as well as other university stakeholders, to create his 10-year-strategy. His plan, “Education for Citizenship 2035,” was introduced in November 2024 and launched in July 2025.

This plan includes the rollout of multiple new scholarships, investments in six specific colleges, an AI Fluency initiative, and a $100 million initiative to attract top faculty to the university.

On March 9, Carter sent a statement to the campus community saying he “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.”

Carter wrote: “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.”

Carter states he and his wife, Lynda, are leaving the university 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,” he said.

Carter succeeded Kristina Johnson as president of the university in January 2024. She stepped down after two years in May 2023, after her resignation revealed consternation with the Board of Trustees.

His contract was set until Dec. 31, 2028.

Before coming to Ohio State, Carter was the president of the University of Nebraska’s system.

Carter spent the majority of his career with the United States Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun), and studied at the Navy Nuclear Power School, the U.S. Air Force Air War College, the Naval War College, and the Armed Forces Staff College. He led the Naval Academy as the longest continuously serving superintendent since the Civil War.

The university did not immediately announce an interim president. Johnson said the Board is finalizing a plan of transition and will share more in the upcoming days.

Carter has 90 days to move out of his campus home.

In a statement to the campus community, Zeiger said the Board will share the plan of transition later in the week and called on all Buckeyes to help the university succeed during the transition.

Sources:

The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State President Ted Carter resigns over inappropriate relationship
10TV: Ohio State president Ted Carter resigns after ‘inappropriate relationship,’ university says
WLWT: Ohio State University president to resign after disclosure of ‘inappropriate relationship.

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