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

Ravi Ballamkonda appointed to lead university after investigation into former president's 'inappropriate relationship'

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:18pm

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Ohio State University has acted quickly to appoint its chief academic officer, Ravi Ballamkonda, as the new university president after the abrupt resignation of former president Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. over the weekend. Carter's resignation came amid an investigation into his 'inappropriate relationship' with the host of a veterans podcast that received funding from the state's economic development office.

Why it matters

The swift transition of leadership at Ohio State comes at a critical time for the university, as it seeks to move past the controversy surrounding Carter's resignation and maintain stability and continuity in its top leadership. The investigation into Carter's relationship with the podcast host also raises questions about the use of public resources and the vetting of partnerships involving university leadership.

The details

Ballamkonda, a bioengineer and neuroscientist, was appointed as the new president by the university's board of trustees, bypassing the traditional nationwide search process. Carter, a retired Navy vice admiral, resigned just two years into a five-year contract after the board confronted him about a tip from outside the university regarding his 'inappropriate relationship' with Krisanthe Vlachos, the host of a veterans podcast called 'The Callout' that received $60,000 in funding from the state's economic development office, JobsOhio.

  • On March 12, 2026, the Ohio State University Board of Trustees voted to appoint Ravi Ballamkonda as the new university president.
  • On March 6, 2026, former president Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. resigned amid an investigation into his 'inappropriate relationship' with the host of a veterans podcast.

The players

Ravi Ballamkonda

The new president of Ohio State University, previously serving 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 amid an investigation into his 'inappropriate relationship' with the host of a veterans podcast that received state funding.

Krisanthe Vlachos

The host of the veterans podcast 'The Callout', which received $60,000 in funding from the state's economic development office, JobsOhio. Vlachos is central to the investigation into former president Carter's resignation.

JobsOhio

The state's privatized economic development office, which provided $60,000 in funding for the veterans podcast 'The Callout' that was hosted by Krisanthe Vlachos and connected to former Ohio State president Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr.

John Zeiger

The chair of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees, who accepted former president Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr.'s resignation.

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What’s next

The university is continuing its investigation into the relationship between former president Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. and the host of the veterans podcast, Krisanthe Vlachos, as well as the use of state funding for the podcast.

The takeaway

The swift transition of leadership at Ohio State University highlights the need for strong governance and oversight, particularly when it comes to the use of public resources and the vetting of partnerships involving university leadership. The controversy surrounding the former president's resignation underscores the importance of maintaining the public's trust in higher education institutions.