COLUMBUS, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Ravi V. Bellamkonda as the university’s 18th president without conducting a nationwide search, a decision that drew criticism from some faculty groups and higher-education experts.
The vote took place during a special meeting at 9 a.m. at the Longaberger Alumni House on the Columbus campus. Bellamkonda assumed the presidency immediately following the board’s decision.
The appointment comes less than four days after former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. resigned following the university’s disclosure of what officials described as an inappropriate relationship involving access to university resources.
Bellamkonda joined Ohio State in January 2025 as executive vice president and provost.
Bellamkonda’s Background and Leadership Roles
Before arriving in Columbus, Bellamkonda served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory University in Atlanta. He previously served as dean of Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering.
Bellamkonda is a bioengineer and neuroscientist who received the National Institutes of Health Director’s Transformative Research Award in 2021.
Board of Trustees Chair John Zeiger said Bellamkonda’s work during his time as provost gave trustees confidence in selecting him as president.
“Since joining Ohio State 14 months ago as our provost and chief academic leader, Ravi has impressed all of us with his commitment to this university and its people,” Zeiger said, according to WOSU Public Media.
Trustees did not publicly explain why the board chose not to conduct a nationwide search or appoint an interim president.
Faculty Groups Criticize the Selection Process
The Ohio State chapter of the American Association of University Professors criticized the decision, arguing that the appointment bypassed traditional shared-governance practices used in university leadership searches.
The group launched a petition calling for a transparent and inclusive presidential search. According to The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, the petition collected more than 700 signatures within two days of Carter’s resignation.
The Ohio Conference of AAUP also described the appointment as a “secretive process,” saying students, faculty and staff should have been involved in the selection.
Ann Marcus, a professor specializing in higher-education leadership at New York University, told The Lantern the timeline appeared unusually fast.
“It does seem very hasty and I don’t understand why they didn’t make the appointment interim,” Marcus said.
Bellamkonda Addresses Campus Issues
After the vote, Bellamkonda spoke with reporters about several issues facing the university.
He said he was “deeply saddened” by Carter’s departure and confirmed that Ohio State would review concerns related to the former president’s use of university resources.
Bellamkonda also addressed topics including campus speech policies, donor-related concerns and ongoing lawsuits filed by survivors of sexual abuse committed by former Ohio State physician Richard Strauss.
He said the university remains committed to supporting survivors and working toward resolving outstanding claims.
Student Leaders Express Support
Some student leaders welcomed the appointment.
University Student Government President Jessica Asante-Tutu congratulated Bellamkonda and said student leaders look forward to working with the new administration.
Graduate Student Trustee Kendall Buchan also said students had been impressed with Bellamkonda’s leadership since he arrived as provost.
Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson told the university will announce a replacement for the provost position at a later date.
Leadership Transition at Ohio State
Bellamkonda becomes the sixth person to lead Ohio State in the past 14 years. The university has more than 60,000 students on its Columbus campus and is one of the largest public universities in the United States.
University officials said additional updates related to the leadership transition and the review of Carter’s conduct will be released as more information becomes available.
Sources: Ohio State University Board of Trustees, WOSU Public Media
Last Updated: March 13, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is based on information released by Ohio State University and verified reporting from local and national sources. Details may change as the situation develops.