Ohio State’s Board of Trustees unanimously named the university’s provost as permanent president after Ted Carter’s abrupt exit, installing an internal leader without appointing an interim or initiating an extended national search. Trustees said the move preserves continuity and avoids a lengthy transition during a volatile moment for large public research universities. The appointment consolidates executive authority at a campus confronting political scrutiny, budget pressures and questions about public confidence. Faculty governance leaders and campus stakeholders will now evaluate the provost’s agenda as she moves from chief academic officer to chief executive. The decision underscores a growing trend of boards opting for rapid internal transitions to stabilize operations and donor relations, while raising questions about shared governance and the timeline for presidential searches at public flagships.