Ohio State President Ted Carter Resigns After Disclosing Inappropriate Relationship With Woman Seeking Public Resources

Ohio State University President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. resigned after disclosing what he described as "an inappropriate relationship" with a woman who was seeking public resources to support her private business.

“Ohio State University President Ted Carter resigned all of a sudden, citing "inappropriate relationship" and the university's Board of Trustees accepted the resignation in an emergency board meeting on March 7”

The Times of India

Multiple outlets report that Carter informed trustees of the relationship and stepped down, with limited public detail about the specifics of the relationship or the resources in question.

The Times of India

Reports differ on the timing and processing of the resignation.

The Times Union states Carter resigned on March 9, 2026.

WTVR

The Times of India says the Board of Trustees accepted his resignation at an emergency meeting on March 7.

The outlets do not provide identical timelines and the university has offered few additional details publicly.

Reports differ about Carter’s tenure and background.

“NewsNational News Actions Ohio State president resigns after admitting to 'inappropriate relationship' Carter, however, apologized and said it was his honor to serve as the university's 17th president”

WTVR

Times Union reports that Carter became Ohio State’s president in 2023, previously led the University of Nebraska system, served as U.S. Naval Academy superintendent, and oversaw an $11.5 billion FY2026 revenue budget at the nation’s sixth-largest university.

The Times of India describes Carter as Ohio State’s 17th president who took the post on January 1, 2024 and highlights his long Navy and higher-education career.

WTVR notes Carter served as Ohio State’s 17th president and states Ohio State enrolls more than 60,000 students.

The sources contradict one another on the start date of Carter’s presidency, with Times Union saying 2023 and The Times of India saying January 1, 2024.

WTVR cites the American Association of University Professors at Ohio State criticizing the school's handling and calling for a more transparent presidential search.

The Times Union records Carter's statement that he resigned voluntarily and is leaving with his wife Lynda.

WTVR

The Times of India situates his short tenure amid a tumultuous period at the university that included protest crackdowns, debates over AI in education and governance changes.