Ohio State President Resigns Over 'Inappropriate Relationship' With Podcaster

Ted Carter Jr. stepped down after admitting to giving 'inappropriate access' to a woman with ties to his podcast

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ohio State University President Ted Carter Jr. has resigned from his $1.5 million-per-year job after admitting to an 'inappropriate relationship' with a local podcaster named Krisanthe Vlachos. Carter, who had been president since 2019, said he 'made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership' to Vlachos, who had appeared as a guest on his podcast. The resignation comes after 45 years of marriage for Carter.

Why it matters

The resignation of a high-profile university president over an inappropriate relationship raises questions about ethics, abuse of power, and the potential for conflicts of interest when university leaders become too closely involved with outside individuals and organizations.

The details

According to reports, Carter's relationship with Vlachos, the host of the 'Callout Podcast' which focused on veterans' issues, was 'possibly connected' to his sudden resignation. JobsOhio, an economic development group, had sponsored Vlachos' podcast, and said the sponsorship 'went through our standard and rigorous legal process.' Carter had been a regular guest on Vlachos' podcast for months, and a photo shows the two smiling together at a conference in January 2026.

  • On March 9, 2026, Ted Carter Jr. resigned as president of Ohio State University.
  • Carter had been president of Ohio State since 2019.

The players

Ted Carter Jr.

The former president of Ohio State University, who resigned after admitting to an 'inappropriate relationship' with a local podcaster.

Krisanthe Vlachos

The host of the 'Callout Podcast' who had a relationship with former Ohio State President Ted Carter Jr.

JobsOhio

An economic development group that sponsored Vlachos' podcast, which they said went through their 'standard and rigorous legal process.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“JobsOhio is aware Ted Carter resigned this morning as President of The Ohio State University and that this situation is possibly connected to a relationship between him and the host of a podcast for veterans, which we sponsored.”

— JobsOhio (NBC 4)

“The Callout Podcast opportunity was consistent with that mission of outreach. The sponsorship of this podcast went through our standard and rigorous legal process, as with any sponsorship given by JobsOhio.”

— JobsOhio (NBC 4)

What’s next

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees will likely conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Carter's resignation and his relationship with the podcast host.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of university leaders maintaining appropriate boundaries and avoiding conflicts of interest, even with outside organizations and individuals they may interact with professionally. The resignation of a high-profile president over an 'inappropriate relationship' raises concerns about ethics, abuse of power, and the need for stronger oversight and accountability in higher education.