Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. has resigned from his position after disclosing an inappropriate relationship involving someone seeking public resources to support a private business.
The university confirmed that Carter informed the Board of Trustees about the relationship before a special executive session held over the weekend. Following the disclosure, Carter offered to step down and the board accepted his resignation.
In a letter dated March 8, Board of Trustees Chair John W. Zeiger wrote that the board was surprised and disappointed by the situation but respected Carter’s decision to resign and cooperate with the leadership transition.
“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously,” Zeiger wrote in the letter accepting Carter’s resignation.
The university said Carter acknowledged that he had allowed inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership and chose to resign for personal reasons.
Leadership Tenure at Ohio State
Carter began serving as Ohio State’s 17th president on January 1, 2024. His contract had been scheduled to run through December 31, 2028.
During his time in office, university officials credited him with launching several major initiatives including the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan, new scholarship programs, and investments across multiple academic colleges.
Trustees had previously praised Carter for his leadership and approved a 4.5 percent merit raise, increasing his base salary to approximately $1.19 million along with a performance bonus valued at roughly $398,000.
Before joining Ohio State, Carter served as president of the University of Nebraska system, overseeing four campuses and nearly 70,000 students and employees.
Military Background and Career
Prior to his academic leadership roles, Carter spent most of his career in the United States Navy.
He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy Fighter Weapons School, commonly known as Top Gun. Carter also 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.
Carter later served as superintendent of the Naval Academy, becoming the longest continuously serving leader of the institution since the Civil War. He spent much of his professional career in the United States Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Vice Admiral. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 and later completed the Navy Fighter Weapons School, widely known as Top Gun. Carter served as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 2014 to 2019 and commanded several naval aviation and carrier operations during his decades-long military career.
