University of Cambridge investigates professor Jason Arday

Jason Arday, who in 2023 became the youngest Black professor in the history of the University of Cambridge, has resigned following an investigation into his academic credentials and professional history. The inquiry was launched after reports identified discrepancies in his biographical claims, including assertions regarding visiting professorships at institutions such as Ohio State University, which has denied any employment relationship with him.

Scrutiny has also targeted Arday’s academic work, including allegations of plagiarism concerning his PhD thesis. While Liverpool John Moores University previously reviewed his doctorate and attributed discrepancies to honest error, Cambridge is continuing its investigation into his appointment and tenure. Arday has denied wrongdoing, attributing errors to inadequate supervision and his disabilities, and has characterized the scrutiny as a personal attack.

Beyond academia, questions have been raised regarding Arday’s claims of elite athletic feats and significant charitable fundraising. The controversy has also extended to his external engagements; it was recently revealed that he was a paid guest speaker at a 2025 conference for the Irish National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).