Professor Jelks holds courtesy appointments in History, Religious Studies, and is the co- Editor of the journal American Studies, as well as co-founder and editor of the Michigan based blog the Black Bottom. Jelks is a graduate of South Shore High School (Chicago), the University of Michigan (BA in History), McCormick Theological Seminary (Masters of Divinity) and Michigan State University (Ph.D. in History); he is also an ordained clergy person in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Before joining the faculty of the University of Kansas, Professor Jelks taught at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.