Jeffrey Epstein’s Girlfriend and the Columbia University Admissions Controversy
Columbia University admitted Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, to its dental school via an “irregular process” that coincided with fundraising solicitations by former faculty and alumni to Epstein.
The emails and documents released by the US Department of Justice reveal a sequence the University now states “does not meet Columbia’s standards for integrity and independence in admissions.”
The people still associated with the school who were involved have since been removed.
Timeline of Events
April 2011: Epstein’s personal assistant arranges a private tour of Columbia’s dental school for Karyna Shuliak as a “favor” to Epstein’s dentist, Dr. Thomas Magnani, who sits on the admissions committee.
2011: Epstein begins emailing Columbia Dental administrators directly. He refers to Shuliak as his “girlfriend” and expresses interest in having her admitted.
February 16, 2012: Shuliak is formally rejected from Columbia Dental’s class of 2016.
February 23, 2012: Seven days later, internal records show plans already in place for Shuliak to enroll as a transfer student.
March 2012: Dean Ira Lamster contacts Belarusian State Medical University to arrange for Shuliak to complete her degree through Columbia.
May 31, 2012: Lamster emails Epstein directly. He confirms Shuliak will join in September, writes that her visa will not be an issue due to her “special status,” and notes the academic dean has already coordinated her full course schedule and clinical responsibilities.
August 16, 2012: Three months after Shuliak’s admission, Epstein advances $100,000 to a fund bearing Lamster’s name.
2014: Epstein donates an additional $50,000 to the school. The donation is made in Shuliak’s name.
2015: Shuliak graduates from Columbia.
January 16, 2018: Magnani emails Epstein to identify the administrator who did the “most” to help Shuliak “get in and finish up dental school.” He then solicits Epstein for a $450,000 donation.
May 22, 2025: Shuliak completes a certificate in advanced dentistry at Columbia and graduates. There is video footage of it.
January 30, 2026: The DOJ releases the correspondence publicly.
February 11, 2026: Columbia announces Magnani has been removed and a second administrator will step down from her roles. The University states it received $210,000 total from Epstein and will donate $105,000 each to two survivor organizations, totaling $210,000, the same sum Epstein donated to the school. Columbia says there was no quid pro quo.
The admissions process that produced these outcomes has not been publicly investigated. No criminal referrals have been made. The internal review Columbia announced is being conducted by Columbia.
