Ted Carter’s two-year Ohio State presidency ends abruptly after trustees accept resignation over relationship disclosure

Resignation accepted March 9 as trustees cite disclosure involving access to university leadership

Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s tenure as the 17th president of The Ohio State University ended on March 9, 2026, after the Board of Trustees accepted his resignation. Carter began his five-year contract on January 1, 2024, following his selection by the trustees in 2023. His departure came a little more than two years into that term.

In messages released on March 9, university leadership said Carter had disclosed to trustees an “inappropriate relationship” involving a person described as seeking public resources to support a personal business. Carter said he had made a mistake by allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership and offered to step down, which the trustees accepted.

Timeline: selection, start date, and formal installation

• August 2023: Trustees voted to appoint Carter as president.

• January 1, 2024: Carter’s presidential term began under a five-year agreement.

• November 8, 2024: Ohio State held an investiture ceremony formally installing Carter as president.

• March 9, 2026: Trustees accepted Carter’s resignation.

Major initiatives during Carter’s presidency

During his presidency, Carter centered long-range planning around a framework titled “Education for Citizenship 2035,” positioned as a 10-year agenda for the university. He used the investiture period and subsequent public appearances to outline the plan’s broad direction and to connect it to university priorities.

Trustee actions and university communications during his term also reflected ongoing emphasis on campus development and research-linked growth, including activity tied to Carmenton, the university’s innovation district, where trustees approved agreements intended to support infrastructure and development.

Governance and policy pressures

Carter’s tenure unfolded amid heightened scrutiny of large public universities, where trustees, state government actions, and campus stakeholders frequently intersect on policy. In university communications about policy developments, Ohio State described reviewing changes in government guidance affecting institutional practices, including work historically grouped under diversity, equity and inclusion.

The university characterized its actions in this area as driven by external policy developments and compliance considerations, while also emphasizing academic freedom and free expression commitments in official statements during Carter’s term.

What happens next

With the resignation accepted, Ohio State’s trustees retain authority over interim leadership and the next stage of presidential governance. The university has not publicly released additional underlying documentation beyond the statements describing the disclosure, the resignation offer, and the trustees’ acceptance.

Carter’s exit leaves the university to manage leadership transition while continuing major academic, research, and development initiatives launched or advanced during his two-year tenure.