Columbus, OH – Ohio State University’s Board of Trustees is expected to formally name Ravi V. Bellamkonda as the university’s 18th president on March 12, less than a week after the resignation of Ted Carter. The decision follows a swift internal review prompted by allegations of an inappropriate relationship involving Carter, and marks a new chapter for the large public university. Bellamkonda, currently serving as OSU’s executive vice president and provost, will take the helm immediately, just two months before the spring graduation ceremony.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Ohio State. Carter’s departure, stemming from an undisclosed “inappropriate relationship” with someone seeking state resources, triggered a period of uncertainty. Bellamkonda’s selection offers a degree of continuity, as he has already been deeply involved in the university’s strategic direction. His focus on artificial intelligence and faculty recruitment signals potential areas of emphasis for his presidency.
A Career in Higher Education
Ravi Bellamkonda’s path to the presidency of Ohio State is rooted in a decades-long career in academia, beginning with a move to the United States from India in 1989 to pursue a Ph.D. At Brown University. He is a bioengineer and neuroscientist, with a track record of leadership roles at several prominent institutions. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2025, Bellamkonda served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory University in Atlanta, a private university with approximately 16,000 students. USA Today reports that he previously held leadership positions at Duke University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
At Duke University, Bellamkonda served as Vinik Dean of Engineering until 2021, and also held the position of president of the American Institute for Medical and Bioengineering. His tenure at Georgia Tech, spanning 13 years, included roles as Wallace H. Coulter Professor and chair of the department of biomedical engineering, as well as associate vice president of research. He began his professorial career at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1995, following a post-doctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Focus on AI and Faculty Investment
Since assuming the role of provost at Ohio State, Bellamkonda has prioritized integrating artificial intelligence into the curriculum. The Office of Academic Affairs, under his leadership, is pursuing an initiative to ensure “every Ohio State student will graduate being AI fluent,” according to the university. This includes embedding AI into undergraduate courses, providing training for faculty, and forging partnerships with external organizations. He also launched the “Game Changer Scholars” initiative on March 2, aimed at attracting high-quality faculty to OSU.
Bellamkonda has also overseen a period of record-breaking research investment at Ohio State, despite federal funding cuts. During his time at Emory University, he led initiatives focused on student experience, faculty recruitment, and the integration of artificial intelligence across various disciplines, including medicine, business, and law.
The Circumstances of Carter’s Departure
The transition to Bellamkonda follows a tumultuous period for Ohio State. Ted Carter resigned on March 7 after admitting to an “inappropriate relationship” with an individual seeking state resources for a personal business, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The board was alerted to the relationship by an anonymous tipster after last week’s board meeting. The relationship involved Krisanthe Vlachos, host of “The Callout Podcast,” which focuses on helping veterans find function in the utilities sector and was sponsored by JobsOhio.
JobsOhio, a private nonprofit corporation dedicated to economic development, had invested $15,000 per episode in a four-episode pilot series for the podcast, though only one episode was completed. ABC6 reports that Carter and JobsOhio President J.P. Nauseef were co-hosts on the completed episode, alongside Vlachos, Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director John C. Harris, and William Butler, president of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. JobsOhio is now seeking to recoup $60,000 from Vlachos.
Carter, who had served as president for just over two years, offered his resignation after being confronted by the board. He had previously described Bellamkonda’s role as provost as “the most important hire I’m making,” calling him “everything he was looking for” in a provost.
As Ohio State moves forward under Bellamkonda’s leadership, the university will be closely watched for its response to the recent controversy and its continued commitment to academic excellence and research. The Board of Trustees is expected to formally approve Bellamkonda’s appointment on March 12.
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