Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. has resigned as president of Ohio State University after disclosing an "inappropriate relationship" with a woman who was seeking public resources for her personal business. The university's board of trustees accepted his resignation, noting their disappointment, and is currently developing a leadership transition plan.
Resignation Details
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., 66, submitted his resignation as president of Ohio State University over the weekend. He stated that his resignation was voluntary, occurring after he informed the university's board of trustees about an "inappropriate relationship" he had.
Carter described his actions as "allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership" and indicated he had "made a mistake."
While he did not specify the exact nature of the relationship, he affirmed that he and his wife, Lynda, remain a couple. The relationship involved a woman who was reportedly seeking public resources to support her personal business.
Board's Response and Carter's Tenure
Board Chair John Zeiger accepted Carter’s resignation. A university spokesperson confirmed that the trustees were aware of the situation before holding a private executive session a day prior to the resignation letter.
Zeiger's letter conveyed the board's "surprise and disappointment" regarding the matter.
Prior to this development, the board had expressed satisfaction with Carter's performance, awarding him a merit raise and a bonus, which brought his annual compensation to over $1.1 million. His contract was originally set to run until 2028.
Sources provide conflicting information regarding the start of Carter's tenure at Ohio State University. One source states he began in 2023, while another indicates he commenced his role as the university's 17th president in 2024. He succeeded President Kristina Johnson, who had also resigned mid-contract in 2020. Before joining Ohio State, Carter served as president of the University of Nebraska from 2020 to 2023.
Leadership Transition and University Context
The university is currently developing a leadership transition plan, with further details anticipated during the week. In the interim, daily operations will be managed by members of Carter’s former cabinet, including a chief of staff, two executive vice presidents, and seven senior vice presidents. Ohio State is recognized as the nation’s sixth-largest university.
Jennifer Tisone Price, executive director of the Ohio conference of the American Association of University Professors, commented on the situation.
She emphasized the need for a transparent hiring process that includes faculty input for future presidential selections.
Other University Matters
Ohio State University is also managing several other significant issues:
- The institution continues to face calls for the removal of former trustee Les Wexner's name from facilities, stemming from his congressional testimony regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
- The university has reached civil litigation settlement agreements exceeding $60 million with over 100 survivors of sexual abuse by former physician Richard Strauss. Over 100 additional plaintiffs currently have pending litigation. The university has stated that these settlements did not involve taxpayer, tuition, or restricted donor funds.