The board is scheduled to meet from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Longaberger Alumni House, with the session open to the public and livestreamed by WOSU Public Media. A university spokesperson has said trustees will use the meeting to announce Ohio State’s next “university leader,” though it remains unclear whether the appointee will serve in an interim or permanent capacity.
Carter’s resignation, accepted by the board following a rare Saturday executive session, came after he disclosed that he had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her private business. University officials have said the relationship, which was brought to the board’s attention by someone outside Ohio State, is now the subject of an internal investigation focused in part on potential misuse of university resources.
Carter, who became Ohio State’s president in January 2024, stepped down a little more than two years into the role. In a written statement released by the university, he described his departure as a “difficult decision,” acknowledging that he “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership” and expressing regret that he could not continue in the position. Board leaders, while citing his contributions to initiatives such as the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan and growth in research and scholarship programs, have offered few details about how the transition will unfold.
The swift move to name a new leader underscores the urgency trustees face in stabilizing the university’s top ranks after yet another sudden change at the presidency. Carter himself was hired following the unexpected resignation of former President Kristina Johnson, who also left after roughly two years in office, prompting a nationwide search at that time. Historically, Ohio State has relied on national search firms and broad advisory committees of faculty, students and community members to select its presidents, a process that can stretch over many months.
This time, however, the board appears poised to act quickly, at least in the short term. Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, university officials have declined to clarify whether trustees will install a permanent president or an interim leader to guide Ohio State through the investigation and a potential longer-term search. The decision comes as campus groups and governance organizations continue to assess Carter’s tenure and the circumstances of his departure, which have raised wider questions about transparency and accountability in university leadership.
Thursday’s public session will offer the first official glimpse of how trustees plan to navigate those challenges. The meeting agenda lists the gathering as a “special public meeting” of the Board of Trustees, signaling that the leadership announcement could be the only item of business. Media outlets and members of the public will be able to follow proceedings via the livestream, while the university has promised more information on the transition in the days ahead.