Cambridge's youngest black professor Jason Arday resigns amid plagiarism row

Published Aug 7, 10:54 AM UTC

Jason Arday, who became Cambridge University's youngest black professor in 2023 at age 37, has resigned as a fellow at Jesus College amid a bitter plagiarism controversy. Arday, diagnosed with autism at three and unable to speak until 11, was celebrated for overcoming adversity. Critics point to passages in his PhD thesis strikingly similar to other papers, while defenders cite lack of supervision and learning disability support. Questions also arose about his claim to have raised £5.5 million for charity, which he later clarified was a collective effort over 12 days. The row intensified after Nathan Cofnas, a sacked Cambridge academic, published a blogpost. Arday was previously cleared of plagiarism, but the scrutiny has raised questions about Cambridge's judgment during its diversity push post-Black Lives Matter.