Man who learnt to read at 18 becomes Cambridge University's youngest ever black professor - BBC News

A man who could not read or write until he was 18 is to become the youngest ever black person to become a professor at Cambridge.

Jason Arday, from south-west London, was diagnosed with autism and global development delay in his early years, and unable to speak until he was 11 years old.

Now the 37-year-old is set to become professor of sociology of education at the university.

Official figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show how, in 2021, just 155 of more than 23,000 university professors in the UK were black. 

Prof Arday said he has a particular interest in improving the representation of ethnic minorities in higher education. 

"If we want to make education more inclusive, the best tools we have are solidarity, understanding and love,” he said.

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