University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who is currently facing allegations of plagiarism, has also reportedly misrepresented his professional affiliations by claiming to have held positions at three other academic institutions. Arday, at 37, is recognized as the youngest Black professor at Cambridge.
Reports indicate that Arday listed himself as a visiting professor at Ohio State University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. However, school administrators stated that they have no record of him as an employee and noted that the office closed in 2025. A spokesperson for Ohio State University, Benjamin Johnson, told the National Review, "We have no record of an employee by that name."
The University of Glasgow also reported having no record of Arday working there as a visiting professor in their School of Education, according to the Daily Mail. A university spokesperson clarified that Arday "isn’t a visiting professor at the University of Glasgow."
Additionally, Arday claimed to be an honorary professor in Durham University's Department of Sociology. While he held several roles at the UK school, a spokesperson stated he currently holds no "formal" position there, describing his affiliation as an "unpaid academic association... in relation to ongoing project work."
These new claims come as Arday faces accusations of plagiarizing over 100 passages in his doctoral dissertation. An analysis reported by The Telegraph suggested these passages were similar to or lifted from the thesis of Paula Zwozdiak-Myers, a student at Brunel University. The allegations were detailed in a Substack article by Nathan Cofnas.
Arday has stated that he fully supports "fair investigation processes for genuine concerns" of academic misconduct. He added that multiple investigations across several institutions, including an academic misconduct panel, have concluded that there was no plagiarism or academic misconduct.
Cambridge University has stated that it has forwarded the plagiarism complaints to Liverpool John Moores University, the institution where Arday completed his PhD. Cambridge maintains that investigations are carried out by the institution where the research was undertaken, which is standard practice in the sector to ensure a full and fair investigation.
Arday has been the subject of numerous media profiles highlighting his academic achievements and personal journey, including overcoming challenges related to being nonverbal until age 11 and having autism spectrum disorder. Nathan Cofnas, who previously held a research position at Cambridge’s Emmanuel College, was dismissed in 2024 after his writings on IQ differences and racial groups faced backlash.