The Ohio State University board of trustees will meet March 12 to discuss personnel action just days after former President Ted Carter’s resignation over an inappropriate relationship.
The board is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. March 12 at the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road in Columbus. Some trustees may participate virtually.
Since Carter’s resignation, the university has not announced any interim leadership plans or how it would proceed in selecting a new permanent president. It will be Ohio State’s third presidential search in five years.
The university announced that Carter resigned on March 9 due to an “inappropriate relationship,” which had been brought to the attention of the university board of trustees by an unnamed tipster in the days before a special meeting March 7, according to university spokesperson Ben Johnson.
When the board confronted Carter, he admitted that he’d “had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking state resources to support her personal business,” according to a university statement. Carter offered to resign, and the board accepted.
“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously,” Ohio State Board of Trustees Chair John Zeiger said in a letter accepting Carter’s resignation. “We respect your decision and appreciate your cooperation in supporting an orderly leadership transition.”
When asked, Johnson said he could not clarify the nature of the relationship that led to Carter’s departure, and he didn’t know whether it was romantic. He said the woman involved is from outside of the university, and he thinks she is local to Columbus.
Though unconfirmed by Ohio State, podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos has been linked to Carter’s resignation. JobsOhio released a statement on March 9 saying it sponsored a podcast for veterans that was connected to the inappropriate relationship. That podcast, hosted by Vlachos, was called “The Callout Podcast,” and Carter appeared on the podcast several times.
In a statement sent to the campus community March 9, Carter said he “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.”
“I believe we have made much progress during my time at Ohio State, and I’m sorry I’m not able to remain your president longer,” Carter said. “The students, faculty and staff at this university are among the very best in the world, and the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan has Ohio State poised to succeed for years to come.”
Johnson said on the day of Carter’s resignation that a university investigation was being launched into the relationship and any concerns over the use of public resources.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State trustees to meet March 12 after Carter’s resignation
Reporting by Emma Wozniak, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
