Nationwide — Jason Arday, who made history as the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge, was found dead at 41, days after resigning from the university amid plagiarism allegations. A friend said Arday had been struggling with intense media scrutiny before his death.
Simon Baron-Cohen, director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Center, said he spoke with Arday just hours before his death. He said the professor told him he was afraid to leave his home because the media was “bombarding” him and trying to “paint him as a fraud.” Baron-Cohen said Arday was struggling to handle the constant attention and criticism.
“He was being subjected to relentless scrutiny, including ridicule, discrediting absolutely every detail of his life,” Baron-Cohen said, according to People. “He was an incredibly kind and gentle and caring and generous man, but he has been portrayed in the media as a plagiarist and a liar and a fraud. His last voice note was that he couldn’t go on.”
Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black Studies, also said Arday appeared deeply upset after resigning from Cambridge. Andrews said Arday felt there was “no way out” and had largely stopped leaving his home.
Cambridge had opened an investigation into Arday after receiving new information about his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. He resigned from his position as Professor of Sociology on Aug. 5, saying his time at the university had been marked by intense public scrutiny and personal attacks.
“When I accepted the extraordinary honor of becoming Professor of Sociology at Cambridge, it was, without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life,” he said in his resignation statement. “Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack.”
Questions about Arday’s academic work had reportedly been raised privately as early as 2023. The issue became public in July after Nathan Cofnas, a former Cambridge researcher, shared parts of Arday’s 2015 doctoral dissertation that had been flagged by plagiarism detection software.
Arday denied the plagiarism allegations. He said criticism was a normal part of academic life but argued that the treatment he faced went “far beyond scholarly disagreement.”
The Metropolitan Police said Arday’s death was “unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.” Officers from the Met’s Central South Command Unit are investigating, and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Following his death, Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said the university was “desperately saddened” by the news and extended her condolences to Arday’s family and friends.