Ohio State University President Resigns After Inappropriate Relationship Disclosure

Carter acknowledged mistake in allowing improper access to university leadership.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Ohio State University President Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. has resigned after disclosing an 'inappropriate relationship' with a woman seeking public resources for her private business. Carter, who had been president since 2023, said he made a mistake in allowing the woman inappropriate access to Ohio State's leadership.

Why it matters

The resignation of the president of a major public university like Ohio State is a significant event, raising questions about the university's leadership, governance, and accountability. Carter's disclosure of an inappropriate relationship also highlights concerns about conflicts of interest and the potential misuse of public resources.

The details

In his resignation statement, Carter did not provide details about the nature of the inappropriate relationship. However, he acknowledged that he had made a mistake in allowing the woman seeking public resources for her private business to have improper access to Ohio State's leadership. Carter, who is 66 years old, said he was resigning voluntarily and leaving with his wife, Lynda.

  • On Monday, March 9, 2026, Carter announced his resignation as Ohio State University president.

The players

Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr.

The former president of Ohio State University, who resigned after disclosing an 'inappropriate relationship' with a woman seeking public resources for her private business.

Kristina Johnson

The previous president of Ohio State University, who resigned from the role in the middle of her contract in a largely unexplained departure.

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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, Ohio State University

What’s next

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees will now begin the process of selecting a new president to lead the university.

The takeaway

This resignation highlights the importance of university presidents and other leaders maintaining the highest ethical standards and avoiding even the appearance of improper relationships or conflicts of interest. Ohio State will need to carefully examine its governance and oversight processes to prevent such issues from arising in the future.