UPenn Dean Named in Epstein Email Release
New DOJ documents contradict senior VP David Asch's earlier claims of 'No Contact' | INVESTIGATIONS
Dr. David Asch, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and professor at both the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School of Business, has come under renewed scrutiny due to his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, his former high school physics teacher at the Dalton School. Recent releases of Epstein-related documents have revealed email exchanges that appear to contradict Asch’s prior public statements about the extent of his contact with the convicted sex offender.
Asch was previously the subject of scrutiny for his relationship to Jeffrey Epstein when his name appeared in a batch of 20,000 documents made public by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this past November in connection with its investigation into Epstein’s business dealings.
In one email from Jamie Rosenwald, an NYU adjunct professor and investment advisor, Rosenwald tells Epstein: “David Asch and I toasted to you during our Thanksgiving weekend in Amagansett in November.”
Rosenwald also states: “Unless your PR advisor is Donald Trump, I am not sure that current press provides you with much benefit.”
The email, dated January 5th, 2015, was sent just days after Epstein was named in a lawsuit alleging he forced a teenage girl to have sexual relations with several men.
Epstein replied the next day: “thanks, what is david doing?”
Rosenwald and Asch are both former students of the Dalton School, the Manhattan private institution where Epstein served as a mathematics and physics teacher from 1974 to 1976.
After the email surfaced, Asch said in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian in December 2025:
“Epstein was my high school physics teacher. The last time I had contact with him was nearly 50 years ago … I would not have toasted him because he turned out to be a contemptible man. I am heartbroken for all of his many victims.”
But in early 2026, the Department of Justice released over 3,000,000 documents, many of them email exchanges, related to the government’s investigation into the disgraced financier. One newly disclosed correspondence between Epstein and Asch appears to contradict his earlier statement about having last communicated with Epstein nearly 50 years ago. It also suggests the two continued some level of contact after Asch left the Dalton School, and after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.
In an email titled, “Hello from your Dalton Years!” and dated September 23rd, 2012, apparently sent from David Asch’s email account, Asch writes to Epstein with nostalgia and expressing a desire to "catch up.”
In one portion, Asch says: “You may also recall that I worked with you at Bear Sterns one [redacted]. It’s been more than 35 years since I’ve seen you.”
Jeffrey Epstein began working at Bear Stearns in 1976, shortly after he was dismissed from his teaching position at the Dalton School. He remained there until 1981.
Asch continues: “It looks like you’ve done extremely well (and a lot better than Bear Stearns as a whole)… If you get this message, I’d be happy to buy you a cup of coffee in NY (or the same if you’re ever in Philadelphia).”
In a later exchange dated September 28th, 2012, what appears to be an assistant to Epstein replies to the email, indicating Epstein’s desire to talk with Asch over the phone. Asch responds: “Sounds great! I will find a time to call.”
Dr. Asch did not reply to a request for comment.
There have been no accusations against Asch for any participation in Epstein’s illegal activities or wrongdoing.
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