Jason Arday

Jason Atta Kwei Arday (9 May 1985 – 14 August 2026) was a British academic and a professor of sociology of education. He joined the faculty of the University of Cambridge in 2023, becoming the youngest black professor in the university's history. In August 2026, he resigned following accusations of academic misconduct and numerous biographical inaccuracies. Arday was found dead at his London home nine days later.

Born in London to Ghanaian parents, Arday said he was diagnosed with autism, was mute until 11, and could not read or write until adulthood. After receiving a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015, Arday taught physical education at Leeds Beckett and Roehampton, education studies at Warwick, and sociology at Durham and Glasgow, where he became a professor in 2022. From 2018, he produced academic publications, some focusing on race and racism in the British education sector, and others offering autoethnographic reflections about his life as a neurodivergent black academic. After joining Cambridge in 2023, Arday attracted media attention and made television appearances over the following years. He was given several honorary degrees, and was appointed to trustee and advisory roles in civil society. His memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, was published in 2026.

Also in 2026, allegations of plagiarism, falsified research, and misleading claims relating to his academic and personal history were widely reported in both the British and international media. Although acknowledging mistakes in his work, Arday maintained he was not a liar, noted that an institutional panel had cleared his PhD thesis of deliberate plagiarism, and argued that there was a racially motivated campaign against him. Shortly after Cambridge announced an investigation into his appointment, Arday resigned. Some media commentators and academics accused Cambridge's employment process of failing to uphold academic standards, argued that the controversy emboldened critics of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, and stated that the case increased challenges for black scholars.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and other political figures expressed condolences upon Arday's death. Various politicians and other public figures said that Arday had been subjected to a racist public shaming by sections of the media, with some calling for a public inquiry into this and greater press regulation. Some media sources defended their obligation to report allegations of academic misconduct and The Guardian noted that journalists investigating the claims were facing abuse.