Jason Arday, ex-Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism, found dead week after resigning

A former Cambridge professor was found dead at his London home on Friday, one week after he resigned from his position at the esteemed university following accusations of plagiarism.

Jason Arday, 41, became the youngest Black professor at Cambridge when he was hired as professor of sociology of education in 2023.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it responded to a report of a man found unresponsive inside a property at 3:12 p.m. on Friday, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been notified and are being supported by officers, police told NBC News, without naming Arday.

Authorities said his death is being treated as “unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.”

University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice confirmed his passing in a statement Friday.

“We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” she said.

Arday was known for his neurodivergence; he had said he was diagnosed with autism as a child and was unable to speak until the age of 11. He went on to forge a path in academia as a scholar of race, inequality and education.

Arday had resigned on Aug. 5 following scrutiny over alleged plagiarism in his academic work and questions about his accomplishments.

Last month, questions regarding his qualifications were raised publicly by Nathan Cofnas, a former Cambridge philosophy researcher who left the institution after critiquing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, The Associated Press reported.

In July, the Times of London also published an analysis of Arday’s 2015 Ph.D. thesis highlighting passages that were “identical or near-identical” to an earlier paper written by another researcher, according to the Associated Press. British media also questioned Arday’s claims that he had raised 5.5 million pounds ($7.4 million) for charity through athletic feats, including running 30 marathons in 35 days and 600 miles in six days.

While Cambridge initially defended Arday, on Aug. 5 it opened an investigation “following new information about Professor Arday’s qualifications and honorary appoints.”

In his resignation statement last week Arday described his tenure as “the privilege of my life to teach my students,” but conceded “the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack.”

“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,” he continued.

In a statement Thursday, Vice-Chancellor Prentice shared an update on the inquiry into Arday, saying the university would investigate the circumstances around his appointment by the Faculty of Education in 2022 and his time at Cambridge.

She also said she asked the university council’s deputy chair and council’s audit committee to establish terms for an independent review of all university processes that will take place alongside the probe into Arday.

In his resignation announcement, Arday said he reached a point where the “personal cost becomes too great.”

“For my own wellbeing, for my family, and for those who have stood by me throughout this difficult period, I have concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away,” he said.

In his statement, he insisted “this is not the end of my work. It is simply the end of this chapter,” and promised to return again.

Arday’s memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things” was released earlier this week in the U.S., which chronicles his childhood — being diagnosed with autism and developmental delays at the age of 3 —to speaking by the age of 11 and reading and writing by the age of 18.

“Without romanticizing the struggle, this is a story of determination against seemingly insurmountable odds—and of a family and a small group of believers whose compassion helped him see what is possible,” a description for the book by publisher Simon & Schuster said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.