Jason Arday, Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor, found dead after 'harassment campaign'
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Saturday the death of Jason Arday was "a tragedy on so many levels". Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor, who resigned from the university last week following a high-profile plagiarism scandal that raised claims of racism, was found dead.
British sociologist Jason Arday, who was 37 when he became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, has been found dead at the age of 41. Arday's resignation from the University of Cambridge came after weeks of plagiarism allegations and media scrutiny. The university announced it would investigate the circumstances surrounding his employment.
Arday, who had denied plagiarism but admitted to some mistakes during his doctoral work, had written in a resignation statement that the relentless accusations had taken a profound toll on him. His family released a statement expressing their shock and describing him as a gentle man who always wanted to see the best in everyone.
The Metropolitan Police stated that Arday was found unresponsive in his Battersea home, but the cause of death has not been determined. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice expressed her deep sadness and sympathy for Arday's family. Arday had written about his personal story of overcoming dyslexia, developmental delays, and autism in his memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things."
His appointment at Cambridge had highlighted his personal story and the campaign of misinformation had left his family in shock.
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