Ohio State appoints Ted Carter next university president

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State board of trustees appointed Walter “Ted” Carter its next university president Tuesday afternoon. Carter, 64, has been serving as the president of the University of Nebraska system since January 2020.

Carter is replacing former Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson, who stepped down from her position in May after taking over in August 2020. Carter is due to start his new role at Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2024.

For now, Peter Mohler, vice president for research at Ohio State, will serve as acting president, according to a university release.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of Ohio State, an institution founded upon and well known across the globe for research, teaching and an enduring commitment to service,” Carter said, via a university release. “The work being done across Ohio and beyond to shape the future of research and innovation, workforce development, the arts, health care, college affordability and college athletics is remarkable. These are areas of particular passion for me, and I can’t wait to begin my journey as a Buckeye.”

Carter has been responsible for overseeing four campuses in the University of Nebraska system. Those include more than 70,000 students, faculty and staff.

At Nebraska, Carter launched a financial aid program called “Nebraska Promise,” which aims to cover tuition for low- and middle-income students. Plus, he put into effect a two-year tuition freeze. Nebraska has enjoyed increased enrollment, including among underrepresented students, across its four campuses while Carter has been leading the system.

A former naval aviator and retired vice admiral with 38 years of service, Carter was previously the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy for five years. Before that, Carter was the president of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Carter’s four-decade-long military career included him logging north of 6,300 flight hours and operating 19 different aircraft carriers. The Burrillville, Rhode Island, native earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy. It was there that he also played hockey, even serving as team captain during his stay.

Additionally, Carter graduated from Navy Fighter Weapons School — otherwise known as Top Gun — and has educational credentials from the Navy Nuclear Power School, the U.S. Air Force Air War College, the Naval War College and the Armed Forces Staff College.

One of Carter’s many responsibilities at Ohio State will be hiring a new athletic director. Gene Smith, Ohio State’s first-ever Black AD, announced earlier this month that he will be retiring in July 2024 after a soon-to-be 19-year run.

Replacing Smith will be a tall task for Carter, considering that, Ohio State teams have won 115 Big Ten titles and 32 national championships with Smith at the helm. What’s more, at points of Smith’s Ohio State tenure, he has served as the chairman of the NCAA Tournament selection committee and as a member of the College Football Playoff committee. He is a key voice in college athletics.

Following his retirement announcement on Aug. 9, Smith said he hopes to provide the new president with “recommendations on characteristics they might consider” during the AD search process.

As it relates to filling the AD position, Smith, at the time, noted that “institutional knowledge” of Ohio State is important. He conceded, though, that he won’t be making the hire.

“Hopefully, they’re going to hire someone skilled and with experience,” Smith said back then. “Someone hopefully with high IQ and EQ. Someone that understands the value of people. That’s a huge characteristic. Someone that holds true to their values of integrity and respect for others.”

Smith continued: “But they’re gonna have to be patient. In this ever-changing world that we’re dealing with, you gotta hit pause. Don’t overreact. Just be patient and be curious and inquisitive. Ask a lot of questions and then, at some point when you have to be authoritative, lead.

“You just can’t overreact in this space.”

Once 2024 arrives, Carter will be the at heart of that AD search and leading Ohio State as a whole.