COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. resigned Monday after informing the university’s Board of Trustees that he allowed someone outside the university inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.
Carter said the individual later used that access while seeking public funding for a private business project.
“For personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as president of The Ohio State University,” Carter said in a statement. “I disclosed to the Board of Trustees that I made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.”
The Board of Trustees accepted Carter’s resignation immediately. Carter had served as Ohio State’s president since January 2024.
Individual Not Officially Identified
Ohio State University has not publicly identified the individual referenced in Carter’s disclosure.
However, several media outlets and Ohio State’s student newspaper have reported that the situation may involve Columbus podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos, host of The Callout Podcast, a show focused on connecting military veterans with careers in energy and infrastructure.
Vlachos has not responded to requests for comment.
According to public posts on LinkedIn, Vlachos previously described Carter as a “dear friend and mentor.” Carter also appeared in multiple episodes of her podcast over the past year.
Questions About Business Connections
Reports have also raised questions about whether university resources were connected to the business activity referenced in Carter’s disclosure.
According to reporting by several outlets, a company connected to Vlachos, VetEarnsUSA LLC was registered at an address associated with WOSU Public Media, a building owned by Ohio State University.
The university said it is reviewing whether any public resources were used improperly.
JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development organization, said its sponsorship of The Callout Podcast followed its normal legal review process but acknowledged the situation is now under review.
Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson confirmed the university has opened a misconduct investigation involving Carter. Johnson said he could not confirm whether the relationship referenced in the disclosure was personal in nature.
Leadership Transition at Ohio State
Ohio State University is one of the largest public universities in the United States, with more than 60,000 students and an annual operating budget exceeding $11 billion.
University officials said an interim president will be named while a national search begins for Carter’s permanent replacement.
Officials said day-to-day university operations will continue as normal during the transition.
Before joining Ohio State, Carter previously served as president of the University of Nebraska system and as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a former U.S. Navy pilot and graduate of the Navy’s Top Gun program.
During his time at Ohio State, Carter oversaw major policy changes, including the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs following the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 1. He also helped establish the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society.
How the Resignation Happened
According to a university statement, concerns about Carter’s relationship were brought to the Board of Trustees by an unidentified individual last week.
Trustees confronted Carter about the issue during a meeting. Carter acknowledged the situation and submitted his resignation, which the board approved.
Ohio State officials said the review of the matter remains ongoing.
Sources: Ohio State University statements; JobsOhio; reporting by NBC4, WOSU Public Media, The Columbus Dispatch, and The Lantern.
Published: March 10, 2026 | ColumbusFrontline.com