Ohio State University President Resigns Over 'Inappropriate Relationship'

Walter 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 Carter Jr., has resigned after disclosing to trustees that he had an 'inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources'. The university did not provide more details about the nature of the relationship or the identity of the person involved.

Why it matters

The resignation comes as Ohio State has faced other negative publicity, including student and faculty pressure to end the university's connection with donor Les Wexner due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and an incident where an assistant professor was placed on leave after being seen in a viral video knocking a journalist to the ground.

The details

In his statement, Walter Carter Jr. said he 'made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership to support her personal business.' The board chair, John W. Zeiger, wrote to Carter accepting his resignation and stating that 'The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously.'

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

The players

Walter Carter Jr.

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

John W. Zeiger

The chair of Ohio State University's board of trustees who accepted Carter's resignation.

Les Wexner

A retail billionaire and donor to Ohio State University who has faced scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

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What they’re saying

“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously.”

— John W. Zeiger, Board Chair

The takeaway

This resignation highlights the importance of university leadership maintaining appropriate boundaries and avoiding conflicts of interest, especially when it comes to the use of public resources. It also underscores the need for Ohio State to address ongoing issues around donor influence and campus climate.