Former OSU president investigated following ‘inappropriate relationship,’ resignation
A recently-published investigation into former Ohio State University president Ted Carter by the school’s Office of University Compliance and Integrity alleges he had misused school resources.
Carter recently resigned as President after his relationship with podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos came to light. Ohio State conducted an investigation, which found that Vlachos did not receive university funds, but employee time was wasted. The report said, “Carter’s actions in connection with Vlachos wasted extensive employee time over nearly two years.”
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The investigation found that Carter “misused his position as Ohio State’s President to seek resources from the university and key university partners for a personal associate, Krisanthe Vlachos.”
According to the report, Carter allowed his personal and professional relationship with Vlachos to improperly influence his actions and judgment. Investigators said that Carter “put his own interests and those of Vlachos before the university’s interests,” adding that his actions “betrayed Ohio State’s Shared Values and violated university policy.”
Over the course of nearly two years, Carter used the authority of his position to make wide-ranging efforts to assist Vlachos both inside and outside the university. Resources he sought on her behalf included employment at the university, space on campus to conduct her business, staff and technical support for her podcast, assistance with business projects, university investment in her proposals, and financial support from external university partners.
Despite those efforts, university processes and policies ultimately prevented them from moving forward. The investigation found that Vlachos was never hired as an employee or consultant, never received university funding, and was not given dedicated campus space. Staff did not perform extensive work on her podcast, app, or other ventures, and she was required to pay for services under appropriate contracts. At one point, her access to Carter’s office was also curtailed, and employees raised concerns through internal channels.
The investigation found that Carter’s actions resulted in a significant use of university resources in the form of staff time and attention. Investigators reviewed emails, calendars, text messages, financial records, and access logs, and conducted 60 interviews, including individuals outside the university.
The investigation also detailed the level of access Vlachos had to Carter during his tenure. She had at least 24 meetings with him, both in person and virtually, and accompanied him on at least five trips. While Carter’s travel was covered by the university, Vlachos’ travel was not reimbursed.
The report concluded with a broader warning about leadership and accountability, stating: “Carter’s activities on behalf of Vlachos provide an object lesson in the dangers of university leaders leveraging their authority, or the credibility of the university, on behalf of associates. Even if such activities may not violate legal or policy requirements, they might create conditions in which such violations could more readily occur. This experience offers the university an excellent opportunity to address these types of behaviors through more tailored ethics and concern reporting training.”
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