A grieving family has paid an emotional tribute after former Cambridge professor Jason Arday was found d.3a.d

Jason Arday’s family pay tribute after ex-Cambridge professor found dead

The former Cambridge University professor was found dead at a property in London on Friday.

Jason Arday’s family have paid tribute to the professor after he was found dead at his home (Image: SWNS)

Jason Arday’s family have paid tribute to the former University of Cambridge professor after he was found dead at a London property on Friday

His family said they were “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son” in a statement issued by his publisher, Simon & Schuster UK. They said Jason was “subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for more than three years” since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University to become the institution’s youngest black professor in 2023. They added that Mr Arday was a “gentle man who always wanted to see the best in everyone.”

The former professor resigned from his role at Cambridge University (Image: Joe Giddens/LOCOG/PA Wire)

Cambridge University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said they were left “desperately saddened” by Dr Arday’s death.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell offered her “heartfelt” condolences to his friends and family, writing she was “deeply shocked and saddened” to hear of his death.

Prof Arday, who resigned following a plagiarism row, was pronounced dead after emergency services were called to an address in Battersea, just after 3pm on Friday, following reports of a man having been found unresponsive inside a property.

The Metropolitan Police said his death was being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

“At this time, his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Central South Command Unit. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

The former professor of sociology of education had faced allegations that he plagiarised his PhD thesis, completed at Liverpool John Moores University, and other research. An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of wrongdoing.

Last week, Cambridge University confirmed it would continue its investigation into the circumstances around Prof Arday’s “appointment and tenure”, adding that findings will feed into a review of the process for appointing senior roles.

Professor Jason Arday receiving his honorary degree from Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (Image: ARU)

Dr Arday resigned just a few hours after the announcement, citing the “unrelenting level of public scrutiny”. He said the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”.

Further questions had also been asked about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity. He also claimed to have appeared in the TV series Seven Up, which broadcast two decades before he was born.

Last week, he admitted mistakes but denied the claims against him, saying he was not a “liar and fantasist” after a list of personal achievements were called into question.

He told The Times: “I am accountable for the mistakes I’ve made. I hold myself accountable, and other people should hold me accountable.

“I think the cruelty that I’ve experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable.”

Durham and Glasgow universities also began an investigation into the circumstances around Prof Arday’s appointment to academic posts there.

In an update on Wednesday, Prof Prentice of Cambridge University said that the investigation into Prof Arday’s employment will be carried out “independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge”.

Prof Prentice added: “In light of the focus on this troubling case and the widespread commentary around it, I want to be very clear that we do not need the outcomes of an investigation to clearly and loudly affirm that our staff of colour are highly valued, for their scholarship, their achievements and the contributions they make to the institution and the wider academic community.

“This particular case is an aberration and should not be used to cast aspersions on their work or the legitimacy of their roles at Cambridge.”

Professor Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge’s English faculty and one of the signatories who called for an independent inquiry, told the Press Association last week that Prof Arday’s case had “acted as a gift to people and forces who have been targeting equality, diversity and inclusion in universities for a long time now”.