Gaëtane Verna, the embattled executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University, will resign effective immediately.

The news comes a week after the Columbus Dispatch reported that Wexner had accumulated a $1.1 million deficit in fiscal year 2024, and that more than a dozen employees signed a formal letter of no confidence in Verna’s leadership. That letter was sent to university officials.

The Dispatch reported that employees at the center were informed of the resignation in an October 29 email from Ohio State University Provost Ravi M. Bellamkonda. According to the email reviewed by the Dispatch, senior vice provost for academic affairs Trevor Brown will “guide this transition in close collaboration with the center’s leadership team” until an interim leader is named.

“The Wex is well known for its outstanding staff of creative and dedicated professionals and, with your continued support, we will continue to serve the community and support artists from Ohio and across the globe during this transition and for many years to follow,” Bellamkonda reportedly w...