Who is Ted Carter’s Wife Lynda? Ohio State President Faces ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ Scandal

Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. is in the news after his sudden resignation as the 17th President of The Ohio State University on March 9, 2026. He stepped down after revealing an “inappropriate relationship” with podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos.

Reports say the relationship was brought to the attention of the university’s Board of Trustees by an anonymous person who does not work at the university. After this, the board held a special meeting where Ted Carter made important disclosures and announced his decision to resign.

In a public statement, Ted Carter said he “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership” to Krisanthe. Because of this, he decided to step down from his position.

Ted Carter had started his role as president on January 1, 2024. His contract was supposed to continue until 2028. He is the third president to leave the university since 2020, after Kristina Johnson and Michael Drake. This situation has also raised questions about the university’s hiring process.

Who Is Ted Carter’s Wife, Lynda Carter?

Lynda Carter, whose maiden name is Lynda Kohlhepp, is the wife of 66-year-old Ted Carter. The couple has been together for more than four decades. During this time, Lynda supported her husband through many personal and professional challenges.

When Ted Carter served as President of the University of Nebraska System, Lynda was known as the “First Lady” of the university. Her work behind the scenes was widely appreciated.

In 2019, she received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Secretary of the Navy for her contributions to the Naval Academy. She earned this honor for her support of many military organizations and activities during Ted Carter’s 38-year career in the U.S. Navy.

Lynda studied at the University of Maryland and graduated with degrees in sociology and statistics. Besides her role as a military spouse, she also enjoys hobbies like cooking, entertaining guests, gardening, and travelling. She also keeps in touch with friends across the country.

How Ted and Lynda Carter Met

Ted Carter and Lynda Carter first met in 1979 during a hockey game at the U.S. Naval Academy. At that time, Ted was a student at the academy while Lynda was studying at the University of Maryland.

The two quickly connected and started dating. After being together for more than three years, they decided to get married in 1982. Their wedding took place shortly after Ted graduated from the Naval Academy and Lynda completed her studies.

Their Family Life

Ted and Lynda Carter have been married for more than 40 years as of March 2026. During their marriage, they became parents to two children, a son and a daughter.

The couple keeps their personal life private, so not many details about their children are publicly known. However, their daughter Jessica is reportedly married to Dr Ross Urick. Their son also attended Jessica’s wedding in Lake Como, Italy, in May 2023 and walked her down the aisle.

Life as a Military Family

Lynda Carter has moved more than 20 times during her long marriage with Ted Carter. These frequent moves happened because of Ted’s long career in the U.S. Navy and later his work in university leadership.

The family lived in many places, including two assignments in Japan and a stay in Annapolis, Maryland, where Ted served as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

After Ted retired from the Navy in 2019, the couple moved to Suffolk, Virginia. In 2020, they relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, when Ted became President of the University of Nebraska System. Their latest move was in early 2024 when Ted took the role of president at The Ohio State University.

Controversy and Investigation

In March 2026, Ted Carter Jr. resigned after admitting to an “inappropriate relationship” with Krisanthe Vlachos, a local podcaster and host of Callout Podcast.

Ted did not clearly confirm whether the relationship was romantic. However, the controversy brought attention to his long marriage with Lynda Carter.

Investigations are also looking into whether university resources were used to support Krisanthe’s business venture, VetEarnsUSA LLC. Reports say the company was registered at the same address as the university-owned WOSU public media headquarters.