Ohio State President Ted Carter Resigns After Relationship

The president of Ohio State University, Ted Carter, resigned after admitting to the university’s Board of Trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship with a woman seeking state resources for her personal business.

Carter, 66, stepped down over the weekend following a special meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees on March 7. According to university officials, the board was informed about the relationship by an outside source. After being confronted, Carter acknowledged the situation and offered to resign. The board accepted his resignation.

In a message to the campus community, Carter said he “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.” He also apologized and said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve the university.

The woman involved in the relationship was not a university employee or student, according to university spokesperson Ben Johnson. However, officials said the university will review the matter to determine whether there was any conflict of interest related to public resources.

Carter became the 17th president of Ohio State University in January 2024. His contract was originally set to continue through 2028. During his time at the university, he introduced a long-term strategy called Education for Citizenship 2035, which focused on expanding scholarships, investing in research programs, and strengthening artificial intelligence education across the university.

Before joining Ohio State, Carter served as president of the University of Nebraska System and had a long career in the United States Navy, where he reached the rank of vice admiral. He also previously served as superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.

Ohio State University is one of the largest public universities in the United States, with more than 60,000 students and a major research and medical system.

The Board of Trustees has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Carter. University leaders said a transition plan and possible interim president will be announced soon while the search for the next president begins.

Officials also confirmed that Carter has been given 90 days to move out of the university president’s residence as part of the transition process.