Chicago – August 15, 2026
Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday has been found dead at a property in Battersea, south London, authorities and the university confirmed. He was 41.
The Metropolitan Police said officers responded to reports of an unresponsive man at about 3:12 p.m. on Friday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police described the death as unexpected but not suspicious, while investigations continue.
Arday became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, serving as professor of sociology of education. He resigned last week after the university opened an investigation into new information concerning his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. The inquiry followed allegations that parts of his doctoral thesis and other academic work closely resembled earlier publications. Arday denied plagiarism and said his resignation was intended to restore peace for himself and his family.
His family said he had endured years of sustained abuse and harassment, and appealed for privacy. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice expressed sympathy to his relatives and friends.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to avoid rushing to judgment and called the tragedy a moment for reflection. Education Secretary Lucy Powell also offered condolences, emphasizing the need to remember the people affected behind the headlines.
