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Jason Arday, the author and academic who became the youngest Black professor in the University of Cambridge's history, has resigned from the institution as it investigates fresh plagiarism allegations.
Arday announced on Aug. 5 that he was stepping down from both the University of Cambridge and its constituent Jesus College with immediate effect. His resignation came shortly after the university confirmed it had opened an investigation following new information relating to his academic qualifications and honorary appointments.
In a statement, Arday described his appointment as Cambridge's Professor of Sociology as the greatest professional honor of his career. However, he said the years since joining the university had been overshadowed by intense public scrutiny and personal attacks that had deeply affected both him and his family.
Arday's rise to prominence attracted widespread attention when he joined Cambridge in 2023. Born in South London to Ghanaian immigrant parents, he was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and remained nonverbal until nearly 12. He learned to read and write in his late teens while also managing dyslexia, dyscalculia and hearing impairment.
His academic work, however, has increasingly come under examination. Questions about his scholarship reportedly surfaced privately in 2023 before becoming public this year. Former Cambridge researcher Nathan Cofnas published excerpts from Arday's 2015 doctoral thesis, claiming plagiarism detection software identified similarities with another dissertation completed in 2009.
Liverpool John Moores University, where Arday earned his doctorate, previously reviewed the allegations and cleared him of wrongdoing. A petition supporting him attracted thousands of signatures, including backing from several Labour Party members of Parliament.
More allegations later emerged after reports highlighted additional passages in Arday's doctoral thesis that closely resembled sections of another student's dissertation. Responding to the claims, Arday acknowledged mistakes in his work and said his complex learning disabilities meant he had not received adequate academic support during his studies. He insisted he should be held accountable for any errors but criticized what he described as the harsh public portrayal of his character.
Cambridge has declined to comment further while the investigation is ongoing, stating that it is committed to ensuring a fair process while continuing to support Arday.
The controversy comes just days before the U.S. release of Arday's memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, which chronicles his challenging childhood and remarkable journey into academia. Questions have also recently been raised about other aspects of his biography, including charitable fundraising achievements and previous academic appointments. His publisher, Simon & Schuster, has expressed confidence in both the memoir and Arday's professionalism throughout its publication.
