Ohio State President Resigns After Inappropriate Relationship

Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. stepped down after disclosing an 'inappropriate relationship' with someone seeking public resources.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The president of Ohio State University, Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr., has resigned after disclosing to the university's board of trustees that he had an 'inappropriate relationship' with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business. Carter had been the university's president for two years, and his resignation comes with no successor announced and few details provided about the public resources or business involved.

Why it matters

The resignation of a high-profile university president over an inappropriate relationship raises questions about ethics, accountability, and the use of public resources for private gain within higher education leadership.

The details

In his resignation statement, Carter said he made 'a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership' by someone with whom he had an 'inappropriate relationship.' The university did not provide any further details about the nature of the relationship or the public resources involved.

  • On March 9, 2026, Ohio State University announced Carter's resignation.

The players

Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr.

The former president of Ohio State University who resigned after disclosing an 'inappropriate relationship' with someone seeking public resources.

Ohio State University

The public research university located in Columbus, Ohio, where Carter served as president until his recent resignation.

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What they’re saying

“For personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as president of The Ohio State University. I disclosed to the board of trustees that I made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.”

— Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr., Former President

What’s next

The Ohio State University board of trustees will begin the process of selecting a new president to lead the university.

The takeaway

This resignation highlights the importance of ethical leadership and the need for public institutions to maintain transparency and accountability in the use of resources, especially when it involves the personal relationships of top administrators.