Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. resigned abruptly over the weekend following the disclosure of “an inappropriate relationship” with a woman seeking public resources for her personal business.
The Associated Press reports that Carter, 66, said in a statement that he had resigned voluntarily after informing the university’s board of trustees of his error. He did not elaborate on the nature of the relationship; his statement indicated that he and his wife, Lynda, are still a couple.
“For personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role as president of The Ohio State University,” he said. “I disclosed to the board of trustees that I made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.”
Board Chair John Zeiger accepted Carter’s resignation in a letter dated Sunday, March 8.
“The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously,” Zeiger wrote. “We respect your decision and appreciate your cooperation in supporting an orderly leadership transition.”
