Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday found dead following plagiarism controversy
Jason Arday, a former University of Cambridge professor who recently resigned following a high-profile plagiarism row, has died aged 41. Emergency services discovered him unresponsive at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, with the Metropolitan Police treating the death as unexpected but non-suspicious.
Arday resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education last week amidst allegations of plagiarism first raised by academic Nathan Cofnas. Whilst Arday denied plagiarism, he acknowledged errors in early work, explaining that his autism led him to rely on mimicry to process information, and noted that the intense public scrutiny had taken an unsustainable personal toll. His family expressed shock at his death, stating that a campaign of misinformation proved too much for him.
In 2023, Arday made history as Cambridge’s youngest Black professor at age 37. Following his resignation, Cambridge initiated an independent review into his appointment, while former employers including the University of Glasgow launched investigations into his co-authored research. Public figures, politicians, and academic colleagues have paid tribute to Arday, whilst raising broader concerns regarding the media pressure and duty of care owed to prominent scholars.
