(Dan Tri) – Mr. Jason Arday, 37 years old, will become the youngest black professor at Cambridge University, England when he takes on the job of teaching the subject of sociology of education from next March.
Mr. Jason Arday (Photo: Cambridge University).
`When I was contacted by the Faculty of Education, I couldn’t believe it. I put down the phone and screamed,` father of two Jason Arday shared with the Daily Mail after receiving good news from such a prestigious university.
Arday will accept the position of professor of sociology of education at Cambridge University, England on March 6.
At age 3, Arday was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay, a genetic problem that causes delayed physical and mental development.
Arday was born and raised in Clapham, south-west London.
Doctors determined that Arday may need support for a long time.
His mother played an important role in helping Arday gain confidence in himself.
In his teens, Mr. Arday also received help from someone who was both a mentor, a college tutor and a close friend.
He then studied physical education and educational studies at Surey University before becoming a physical education teacher.
At the age of 22, Arday decided to continue his studies at graduate school.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: `When I started writing academic articles, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had no mentor and no one to show me how to write.`
`The papers I submitted were flatly rejected. The process of evaluating academic papers is very rigorous, but I took it as a learning experience and began to enjoy this work,` Mr. Arday added
After a process of effort, Mr. Arday achieved two master’s degrees and a doctorate in educational research.
In 2018, Mr. Arday published his first article and took on a senior lecturer role at Roehampton University.
In 2021, he became professor of sociology of education at the University of Glasgow.
Arday said growing up in difficult conditions and working as a teacher gave him insight into the systemic inequality that ethnic minority youth face in education.
He is especially interested in promoting higher education for ethnic minorities.
`My work mainly focuses on helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education,` he told the BBC.
