Jason Arday

Jason Arday FRSA (born 1985) is a British sociologist.

Early life

He was born to Ghanaian parents and grew up in Clapham, South London. ^[1]

Research and career

Education and early career

Arday studied education at undergraduate and postgraduate level, completing a PhD in education at Liverpool John Moores University. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (fHEA). ^[2]

In 2017, Arday was paired with MP and Shadow Minister for Mental Health Rosena Allin-Khan through the Operation Black Vote MP Shadowing Scheme. ^[3]

Arday has conducted research into Black students' experiences across universities ^[4] and has argued for greater recognition of Black British history in the school curriculum. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Arday has also contributed articles to newspapers including The Guardian and reports for policy organisations such as the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI). ^{[6] [8]}

Appointments

Arday has held academic posts at the University of Roehampton, Durham University and the University of Glasgow. He is also a visiting professor at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. ^[9] In 2021 he was appointed Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow. At the time, press coverage described him as one of the youngest professors in Britain and the youngest Black professor in the UK. ^[10] In March 2023, the University of Cambridge announced his appointment as Professor of Sociology of Education. Reports in the national media highlighted him as one of the youngest people to hold a professorship at Cambridge. ^[11]

Fundraising and charity work

In 2010, Arday ran 30 marathons in 35 days to raise money for Shelter and the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. ^[12] Local media reported on the challenge at the time. His fundraising activities led to his selection as a Torch Bearer for the London 2012 Olympic Games. ^[13]

In 2023, Anglia Ruskin University awarded Arday an honorary doctorate. ^[14]

Selected publications

• Arday, J. (2019). Cool Britannia and Multi-ethnic Britain: Uncorking the Champagne Supernova. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 978-0367335402.
• Arday, J. (2020). "Fighting the tide: Understanding the difficulties facing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) doctoral students pursuing a career in academia". Educational Philosophy and Theory, 53(10), 972–979. doi:10.1080/00131857.2020.1777640.
• Arday, J. (2020). The Black Curriculum: Black British History in the National Curriculum Report. London: The Black Curriculum.
• Arday, J. (2021). "No one can see me cry: Understanding mental health issues for Black and minority ethnic staff in higher education". Higher Education, 83(1), 79–102. doi:10.1007/s10734-020-00636-w.
• Arday, J.; Belluigi, D. Z.; Thomas, D. (2021). "Attempting to break the chain: Reimagining inclusive pedagogy and decolonising the curriculum within the academy". Educational Philosophy and Theory, 53(3), 298–313. doi:10.1080/00131857.2020.1773257.

References

1. Brinkhurst-Cuff, Charlie (11 July 2023). "Jason Arday: he learned to talk at 11 and read at 18 – then became Cambridge's youngest Black professor". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
2. "Dr J Arday - Durham University". www.dur.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
3. "OBV MP Shadowing Scheme 2017/18 | OBV". www.obv.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
4. Arday, Jason (2020-06-25). "Fighting the tide: Understanding the difficulties facing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Doctoral Students' pursuing a career in Academia". Educational Philosophy and Theory. 53 (10): 972–979. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2020.1777640 . ISSN   0013-1857.
5. "Black applicants least likely to be offered PhD places". BBC News. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
6. Arday, Jason (2020-07-24). "This is a low: The enduring effects of racial discrimination on mental health within the academy". HEPI. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
7. Weale, Sally (2020-11-25). "National curriculum in England 'systematically omits' Black British history". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2021-01-24.
8. "The Black Curriculum". The Black Curriculum. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
9. Cawley, Laurence (23 February 2023). "Cambridge University's Jason Arday becomes youngest black professor". BBC News. Cambridgeshire. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
10. Parker, Charlie (2023-02-23). "Jason Arday becomes Cambridge University's youngest black professor". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
11. Weale, Sally (2023-02-23). "Jason Arday to become youngest ever black professor at Cambridge". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-08-31.
12. "College lecturer completes marathon challenge". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
13. Mahanty, Shannon (2023-03-09). "I was illiterate until I was 18, now I'm Cambridge's youngest black professor". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
14. "ARU honorary degree for distinguished Cambridge Professor | Cambridge Network". www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-31.