Jason Arday, ex-Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism, found dead week after resigning

A former Cambridge professor was found dead at his London home on Friday, one week after he resigned from his position at the esteemed university following accusations of plagiarism.

Jason Arday, 41, became the youngest Black professor at Cambridge when he was appointed to professor of sociology of education in 2023.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it responded to a report of a man found unresponsive inside a property at 3:12 p.m. on Friday, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been notified and are being supported by officers, police told NBC News, without naming Arday.

Authorities said his death is being treated as “unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.”

University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice confirmed his passing in a statement Friday.

“We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” she said.

Arday’s memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things” was released earlier this week, which chronicles his childhood — being diagnosed with autism and developmental delays at the age of 3 —to speaking by the age of 11 and reading and writing by the age of 18.

“Without romanticizing the struggle, this is a story of determination against seemingly insurmountable odds—and of a family and a small group of believers whose compassion helped him see what is possible,” a description for the book by publisher Simon & Schuster said.