Ohio State University’s president resigned after an internal finding of an inappropriate relationship involving public resources; trustees moved quickly to appoint Provost Ravi Bellamkonda as permanent president without a wider campus search. The change followed a narrow window between resignation and the trustees’ unanimous selection, which faculty and student groups criticized for excluding broader campus participation. The episode highlights tensions in governance: boards can act swiftly to stabilize leadership but risk eroding faculty trust when search processes bypass shared governance norms. The university framed the move as a necessary step to maintain continuity, while critics urged more transparent presidential searches and stronger faculty input in future transitions.