Jason Arday resigned from the University of Cambridge on Wednesday, marking a development in the controversy surrounding his promotion to a professorship at the age of 37. Academic colleagues have demanded an investigation into his 2023 appointment to the faculty of education, calling for external involvement.
Allegations of plagiarism and claims made by Mr Arday regarding his background, career, and charity fundraising are still under scrutiny. A memoir, for which he stated he received a significant advance and which is billed as a triumph over adversity including an early autism diagnosis, is scheduled for release later this month. His publisher, Simon & Schuster, has been urged to pause its release while inquiries proceed.
The university has been criticised for failing to conduct due diligence on Mr Arday before his promotion as Cambridge's youngest black professor, and for its subsequent response to challenges. This situation is seen as a disservice to black and neurodivergent scholars and a setback for efforts to increase representation of underrepresented groups.