Ohio State Names Provost as New President After Predecessor's Abrupt Resignation

Trustees vote unanimously to appoint Ravi Ballamkonda as the university's fourth president since 2020.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:11pm

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Ohio State University has acted swiftly to move past the abrupt resignation of its former president, Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr., by elevating its chief academic officer, Ravi Ballamkonda, to the role. Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday to appoint Ballamkonda as the university's new president, bypassing the traditional nationwide search process.

Why it matters

The sudden resignation of President Carter came after revelations about his 'inappropriate relationship' with the female host of a podcast for military veterans. This case has raised questions about leadership accountability and oversight at major public universities.

The details

Carter disclosed that he had 'made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership' and submitted his resignation just two years into a five-year contract under which he made more than $1.1 million a year. The university is now investigating Carter's relationship with Krisanthe Vlachos, the host of a veterans' podcast pilot called 'The Callout' that was funded by the state's economic development office, JobsOhio.

  • On March 12, 2026, Ohio State trustees voted unanimously to appoint Ravi Ballamkonda as the university's new president.
  • On March 7, 2026, former President Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. resigned after disclosing an 'inappropriate relationship' with the host of a veterans' podcast.

The players

Ravi Ballamkonda

The new president of Ohio State University, who previously served as the university's executive vice president and provost. Ballamkonda is a bioengineer and neuroscientist who has held leadership positions at several other universities.

Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr.

The former president of Ohio State University, who resigned after just two years into a five-year contract following revelations about an 'inappropriate relationship' with the host of a veterans' podcast.

Krisanthe Vlachos

The host of the veterans' podcast 'The Callout,' which was funded by the state's economic development office, JobsOhio. Vlachos is now part of the university's investigation into the circumstances surrounding Carter's resignation.

JobsOhio

The state's privatized economic development office, which paid $60,000 to fund the 'The Callout' veterans' podcast pilot that was recommended by former President Carter.

John Zeiger

The chair of Ohio State's board of trustees, who accepted Carter's resignation and expressed surprise and disappointment over the revelations.

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What they’re saying

“The right leader is already at our university, and his vast experience, his personal values and management skills, his strong record here at Ohio State and his ability to inspire excellence in all those around him give this board great confidence that Dr. Ravi Bellamkonda is the right person to lead this university into the future as our president.”

— John Zeiger, Chair, Ohio State Board of Trustees (darientimes.com)

“Looking ahead, knowing our collective strengths, I promise you this: Together we will take on hard things that are worth doing. Hard things that are worth doing in athletics, in healthcare, in education, in fact in all the things we do. We will lead and we will not be afraid to lead.”

— Ravi Ballamkonda, New President, Ohio State University (darientimes.com)

What’s next

The university's investigation into the circumstances surrounding former President Carter's resignation is ongoing, and it is expected that more details will emerge in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of strong leadership and accountability at major public universities, as well as the need for rigorous oversight of university partnerships and funding arrangements to ensure they align with the institution's values and mission.