Jason Arday, a Cambridge University professor who had recently resigned amid allegations of plagiarism and claims he misrepresented parts of his résumé, was found dead on Friday, according to a report.
Arday, 41, who was widely reported to be the youngest Black professor in the history of the prestigious university, was found “unresponsive” in south London and was later pronounced dead at the scene, the UK Telegraph reported.
“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,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman told the newspaper.
“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 sociology professor, who had become a prominent figure in conversations about diversity in higher education, resigned from his Cambridge post on Aug. 5 as the university opened an investigation into allegations that he plagiarized sections of his Ph.D. dissertation and falsely claimed to have held positions at other institutions.
In stepping down, Arday pointed to what he described as an “unrelenting level of public scrutiny.”
