Key facts
- Colleagues at Cambridge University privately questioned the hiring of Nathan Cofnas.
- The chair of the philosophy faculty suggested a Google search would have revealed more about Cofnas's views prior to his 2022 appointment.
- Cofnas was dismissed by Cambridge's Emmanuel College in April 2024 following a blog post linking race to academic ability.
- Ghent University suspended Cofnas pending an investigation into his recent public statements.
- Academics at Ghent University have questioned Cofnas's qualifications and expertise.
Academics at the University of Cambridge privately expressed concerns in 2024 regarding the hiring of Nathan Cofnas, who has since faced scrutiny for his public comments and was dismissed by the university's Emmanuel College. According to Middle East Eye, during a private meeting in February 2024, the then-chair of the philosophy faculty, Angela Breitenbach, suggested that "if one could’ve Googled, one would’ve found out more" about Cofnas's views before his 2022 appointment as a Leverhulme Trust early career fellow. Breitenbach acknowledged the hiring process was "not satisfactory ultimately."
Bhaskar Vira, the pro vice chancellor for education, stated that senior management was "outraged" by Cofnas's blog post linking race to academic ability, and that the university was considering its response. Associate Professor Sophie Dandelet raised concerns about Cofnas's views potentially impacting his ability to teach students.
Cofnas was dismissed by Emmanuel College in April 2024 after publishing a blog post in February of that year claiming that under a true meritocracy, Black people would "disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment." He sued the college for belief discrimination but lost the case, with the college winning on grounds of reputational damage.
Meanwhile, Ghent University in Belgium, where Cofnas is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher, suspended him pending a disciplinary investigation into his "recent public statements." This followed the death of sociologist Jason Arday, who had resigned from Cambridge after facing a media campaign accusing him of plagiarism.
Professors at Ghent University have also questioned Cofnas's qualifications and "limited expertise," with the philosophy department alleging a lack of transparency in his selection and suspecting an "ideological choice." US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White condemned Cofnas's suspension, and Cofnas later announced he would remain at Ghent University to continue his research, thanking the ambassador for his help, though the disciplinary inquiry remains ongoing.