Documents reveal Carter sought NU job for podcaster during his tenure

Records obtained by Nebraska Public Media News show former University of Nebraska President Ted Carter attempted to secure a position at the University of Nebraska System for podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos during his tenure, according to a report by Nebraska Examiner.

Carter, who led the University of Nebraska from 2020 to 2023, resigned from his position as Ohio State University president last month after acknowledging "an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business."

In April 2023, near the end of his tenure at NU, Carter submitted Vlachos' resume for consideration at the National Strategic Research Institute, a national security research center operated by the NU system in Omaha. Rick Evans, executive director of the institute and a retired major general in the U.S. Air Force, responded by identifying a "Contracts and Business Operations Coordinator" position based in Omaha as potentially suitable for Vlachos' skills.

Carter replied that he believed Vlachos "is more than willing to relocate to Omaha." It remains unclear whether Vlachos was ever seriously considered for the position. Carter also forwarded Vlachos' resume to a University of Nebraska Foundation member in May 2023.

The records reveal Carter and Vlachos first connected during a Veterans in Energy forum in Washington, D.C. in March 2023. Their subsequent email communication through the university system ceased after July 2023, when Carter sent a brief message to Vlachos providing his phone number.

An investigation released this month by Ohio State University found that while at that institution, Carter provided Vlachos "extraordinary access" to university leadership, including at least 24 meetings and five trips together. The investigation concluded Carter misused his position to seek resources from the university and key university partners for Vlachos. Senior Vice President Chris Kabourek, a former NU chief financial officer and interim president, assisted Carter extensively in those efforts before resigning in April.

The University of Nebraska said it does not believe further review of its records is necessary at this time.