Jason Arday (9 May 1985 – 14 August 2026) was a British academic who made history in 2023 as the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge, but his career unraveled in 2026 when he resigned amid allegations of plagiarism, falsified research, and misrepresented biographical claims. He was found dead at his home in Battersea just nine days after his resignation, following Cambridge's announcement of an investigation into his appointment. Arday's early life was marked by extraordinary claims—he said he was diagnosed with autism, global developmental delay, and deafness at age three, was non-verbal until 11, and couldn't read or write until 18—though these were later questioned by the press. After earning a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015, he taught at several institutions before his Cambridge role, producing work on race and racism in education through the lens of critical race theory. The scandal sparked widespread debate, with many academics arguing it damaged the public reputation of critical race theory and emboldened critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.