Cambridge Vice-Chancellor mourns death of former professor Jason Arday

Jason Arday, the former Cambridge professor who resigned from his position last week amid allegations of plagiarism, was found dead at a residence in Battersea, south London, on Friday. UK media outlets confirmed the identity of the deceased, with the Metropolitan Police stating that Arday was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson described the death as unexpected but confirmed it is not currently being treated as suspicious. Arday, a professor of sociology of education, had stepped down just over a week prior to his death following mounting scrutiny regarding his academic record.

The controversy surrounding Arday intensified last month after criticism from former Cambridge researcher Nathan Cofnas. This was followed by a report from The Times of London highlighting similarities between passages in Arday’s 2015 PhD thesis and an earlier paper by another researcher. Cambridge University initially maintained its support for Arday, noting that the allegations had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his doctorate.

However, the university launched a fresh investigation last week after receiving new information regarding Arday’s qualifications and honorary appointments. British newspapers and commentators have subsequently argued that Arday gained an unfair advantage through diversity, equality and inclusion policies, a claim presented as opinion by the press.

Arday had denied wrongdoing in his resignation letter, stating he did not accept the narratives that had surrounded him. He described the relentless accusations and public commentary as having taken a profound toll on him and his family. Supporters, including over two dozen academics and politicians, have characterised the allegations as a smear campaign designed to discredit Black professionals in influential positions.

British media have also questioned Arday’s claims of raising £5.5 million for charity through endurance challenges. Arday had previously told The Guardian that the funds were raised collectively over two decades. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice issued a statement on Friday expressing deep sadness at the news and offering heartfelt sympathies to Arday’s family and friends.