Professor Jason Arday is a social commentator, presenter and public speaker. He is currently the 2002 Professorial Chair of Education (Sociology of Education) at the University of Cambridge, making him the youngest-ever Black academic to hold a Professorship at Cambridge and one of the youngest academics ever appointed to a Professorial Chair in Oxbridge’s history. At three years old, Jason was diagnosed with global development delay and autism spectrum disorder. He did not speak until he was eleven years old, and could not read or write until he was eighteen.
He is currently working on his memoir, which will recount his journey from diagnosis to academia while exploring the unique intersectionality between race, adversity and neurodiversity. Arday has previously published three books of academic work, which focus on race, higher education, intersectionality, mental health, neurodiversity, and cultural studies.
In his keynotes, Arday focuses on how his identity as a Black autistic man has shaped his experiences in the academic world. Working in a mainly neurotypical-powered institution, he faces an immense amount of pressure to navigate neurodivergence and racism in attempting to create change. He touches on the process of decolonization, and how establishments can improve their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) to become more inclusive to those with differing identities. He also discusses the importance of charity and the importance of using adversity as a vehicle for success. Arday lives in the UK but is an internationally sought-after speaker for industry conferences, corporate events, university lectures, and more, and has traveled across the United States for speaking engagements.
Arday completed his undergraduate degree in Education Studies with Physical Education at the University of Surrey, and eventually went on to receive his PhD in education from Liverpool John Moores University. He is a member of multiple organizations such as the Runnymede Trust, the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) National Advisory Panel, the NHS Race and Health Observatory Academic Reference Group and the ITV Cultural Advisory Council.
Outside of academia, Arday has been a prolific fundraiser having raised over £5.5 million pounds for 80 national charities over an 20-year period. His fundraising achievements include running: 30 marathons in 35 days, 300 miles in 3 days and 600 miles in 6 days. He has also undertaken and completed relief work in South America and West Africa with WaterAid installing water points, which provide drinkable and clean water. The highlight of these fundraising achievements culminated in selection to be an Olympic Torch Bearer for the London 2012 Olympics. Additionally, Arday has set up homeless drives across London to develop mobile soup kitchens and cleaning facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
