Chapman parts ways with Jack Horner following Epstein files mention
Collage by Easton Clark, Photo Editor
Jack Horner, paleontologist turned lecturer, is no longer employed by Chapman University weeks after the Department of Justice released emails linking Horner to Jeffrey Epstein.
Robert Hitchcock, Chapman’s director of strategic communications and public relations, confirmed that Horner is no longer an employee of the university, but did not reveal whether he was fired or left at his own will. Additionally, Hitchcock did not confirm if it was due to his connections with Epstein, nor did he share further findings.
Horner’s classes, Darwin's Evolutionary Theory: the Science and the Controversy and Dinosaurs: In Science and Media, were canceled days after the emails showing his history with Epstein were made public.
Chapman officials have also begun removing Horner’s online connection to the university, including the home page for the Dinosaur Lab he founded in 2022 and Chapman News articles that mention either the lab or Horner.
Horner joined Chapman at the invitation of then-President Daniele Struppa after he delivered a keynote speech at a 2015 dyslexia conference hosted by Chapman.
Horner’s expertise was used beyond the classroom or lab as he frequently spoke to Dodge College of Film and Media Arts students about his experience as a technical advisor on the “Jurassic Park” movie franchise.
Chapman is just one of the organizations affiliated with Horner to cut ties after the release of the files.
On Feb. 9, DinoCon, the largest U.K. prehistoric convention, posted on X that the organization is prohibiting the presence of any paleontologist or organization named in the files.
“It has come to light that a select number of scientists, authors and researchers relevant to the field of palaeontology allegedly engaged in correspondence with members of the Epstein organisation after the conviction of Jeffrey Epstein,” the statement said. “We want to state that all respective individuals are banned from all of our events.”
Horner is far from the only college academic named in the files, prompting various precautionary measures in higher education across the country.