Ohio State Investigation Finds Former President Broke University Policy
Ohio State University has released a report concluding that its recently resigned president, Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., violated institutional policy by attempting to leverage his position to assist a woman with whom he maintained a close personal relationship. The investigation, requested by the university's board of trustees, detailed Carter's efforts to help Krisanthe Vlachos secure employment at the school and gain access to various university resources.
Trustees Express Disappointment Over Findings
In a statement issued on Tuesday, John Zeiger, chair of Ohio State's board of trustees, described the investigation's findings as “deeply disappointing.” Zeiger emphasized that the university's internal systems and processes successfully prevented the misuse of school resources. However, the report also highlighted that Carter's actions resulted in the misapplied time and effort of numerous university personnel, with at least 14 employees receiving direct requests from Carter to assist Vlachos.
Extensive Efforts to Provide Assistance
The 47-page investigative report, conducted by offices reporting to the board's legal, audit, risk, and compliance committee, outlined a series of actions taken by Carter over nearly two years. These efforts included:
- Recommending a school official to hire Vlachos.
- Seeking campus space for her business activities.
- Requesting staff support for her podcast focused on military veterans and other business projects.
- Attempting to secure university investment in her business proposals.
- Seeking support from external agencies such as JobsOhio, the state's privatized economic development office.
The report stated, “Carter’s actions betrayed Ohio State’s shared values and violated university policy. Carter had a close personal and business relationship with Vlachos, and he allowed that relationship to improperly influence his actions and impair his judgment.”
Resignation and Lack of Response
Carter's resignation came abruptly after the board of trustees confronted him about a tip from outside the university. In his resignation statement, Carter admitted to “making a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership.” The university had previously announced it was investigating Carter's “inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.” Carter did not elaborate on the nature of the relationship, including whether it was romantic.
Neither Carter nor Vlachos issued an immediate response to the report's release. Contact information for Carter was unavailable on Tuesday, and Vlachos did not respond to an email inquiry.
Background and Institutional Context
Walter Carter, a retired Navy vice admiral, was only two years into a five-year contract as president, earning over $1.1 million annually plus bonuses and residency at the Ohio State president’s mansion. Ohio State University, the nation's sixth-largest university, boasts more than 60,000 students, over 600,000 living alumni, and a highly ranked football team and medical center. During Carter's tenure, he oversaw a fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $11.5 billion in revenues and $10.9 billion in expenditures, underscoring the significant responsibilities of the position he held.
