Ohio State University President Ted Carter resigned after disclosing an “inappropriate relationship” with a person seeking university resources to support her business, the university announced. The board accepted his resignation after an unplanned trustees’ meeting; Carter said he “made a mistake” in allowing inappropriate access to leadership. The departure comes amid a turbulent presidency that included legal disputes, donor scrutiny and high-profile campus controversies. trustees and senior administrators will now manage a rapid leadership transition at one of the nation’s largest public research universities. The resignation raises immediate governance questions about institutional oversight, conflicts of interest and the board’s vetting of executive access to university resources. Ohio State said it will release more details about the transition in the coming days. For higher-education leaders and board members, the episode is a reminder of reputational and legal exposure tied to executive conduct, donor relationships and internal controls. Institutions should expect scrutiny from state officials, alumni and the media as they manage interim leadership and preserve continuity for research, athletics and student services.