Jason Arday
A former University of Cambridge professor who resigned following accusations of plagiarism Jason Arday has been found dead.
The Ghanaian professor was found “unresponsive” at an address in Battersea in London on Friday afternoon.
The 41-year-old, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, resigned as a professor of sociology of education last week.
It followed a series of reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis at Liverpool John Moores University.
Other claims also came under scrutiny, including that he ran 600 miles in six days and raised millions for charity.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
“At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.”
According to a Cambridge biography, Arday was diagnosed with a form of autism spectrum disorder that meant he was unable to speak until 11, or to read or write until he was 18.
But some people who said they attended school with him also questioned those claims, telling media he was often quiet but not mute.
Mr Arday went to college, trained as a teacher, and then started an academic career that saw him get the Cambridge job three years ago.
Resigning last week, he wrote to colleagues: “While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement.
“The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.”
His memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, is due to be published on 27 August – though the publisher has faced calls to postpone its release.
The Daily Telegraph, which first published the plagiarism claims last month, reported that Mr Arday’s thesis “contains more than 180 passages which are identical or nearly identical to another researcher’s”.
About Jason Arday
Jason Atta Kwei Arday was born on 9 May 1985 in London to Ghanaian parents. He grew up in Clapham, South London, in a family of four brothers. His mother worked as a mental health nurse and his father was a chef.
Arday attended Heathbrook Primary School before studying sport and development at Merton College. He later pursued higher education and built an academic career in sociology and education.
He also became known for his involvement in athletics, charity fundraising and community initiatives, including running 30 marathons in 35 days in 2010 and carrying the Olympic torch during the 2012 London Olympics.
Arday later rose through academia and was appointed a professor at the University of Cambridge in 2023, becoming one of the university’s youngest Black professors.
