Youngest Black professor at Cambridge who faced plagiarism claims is found dead
LONDON (AP) — A British sociologist who resigned last week from the University of Cambridge following weeks of public accusations of plagiarism and media scrutiny was found dead Friday. Jason Arday, who was 37 when he became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, resigned after he came under intense media pressure, with weeks of allegations about plagiarism in his […] The post Youngest…
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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