COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. spoke Friday afternoon at his investiture ceremony where he was officially sworn into his position.
The investiture ceremony culminated in an oath of office and a presidential address that established how Ohio State will continue growing its impact in the future.
According to the university, the investiture of a president is a significant milestone in the life of a university and a respected and time-honored tradition in academia.
During the ceremony, Carter laid out his priorities for the next decade at the university.
"The future of higher education is and will be here at The Ohio State University. We will be a model for the nation," Carter said.
To make that vision a reality, Carter laid out five things the university will do:
1. The pursuit of academic excellence
2. Educate the future great generation for citizenship
3. Embrace and advance research, creativity and innovation
4. Create the best working and learning environment
5. Continue to respect the university's past
"But we have to reimagine what the future of a land grant university is because times have changed from when we were founded," Carter said.
Carter said if the university is great at academics, everything else will soon follow and added that student success is about much more than getting a diploma.
He said he's also considering creating a mentorship program to connect students with Ohio State alumni to help students succeed.
In April, Carter held his first State of the University address where he discussed the responsibility to take care of students and ensure their safety on campus.
Carter, 64, started the position on Jan. 1, taking over the role previously occupied by Kristina Johnson, who resigned mid-contract in November 2022. He is the 17th president of the university.
He previously served the role of president at the University of Nebraska System, a Midwestern land-grant institution with a large medical center and he was the former superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Carter earned a bachelor's degree from the Naval Academy in physics and oceanography and served for 38 years, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star. He logged more than 6,300 flying hours during 125 combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo.
He and his wife, Lynda, have been married for 41 years and have two adult children.