EDUCATION
M.A., History — Jackson State University, 2025
Thesis: "Emptying Her Master's Pockets: The WPA Narratives and a New Archival Practice"
B.A., English Literature — Thomas Edison University, 2012
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Our Sister's Keeper — ForthcomingYonder Come Day: Exploring the Collective Witness of the Formerly Enslaved — Baker Books, 2024Lulu Fleming: The Doctor Who Shared Jesus — B&H Kids, 2024 | Here I Am! Biography SeriesCrowned with Glory — Baker Books, 2023Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame — B&H Publishing, 2023Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us — Bethany House Publishers, 2022Carved in Ebony Young Reader's Edition — Bethany House Publishers, 2022Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope — B&H Publishing, 2020
Bible Studies
Ephesians — Co-author with Jackie Hill Perry & Melissa Kruger | Lifeway, 2024
2025 Christian Book Awards Finalist — Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
Contributions
Happily Ever After: Finding Grace in the Messes of Marriage — Contributing author | Desiring God, 2021His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God — Contributing author | The Good Book Company, 2019Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ — Contributing author | The Gospel Coalition, 2018World on Fire: Walking in Wisdom When Everyone's Fighting about Everything — Contributing author | B&H, 2017CSB Bible — Biographical entries and historical contextualization | B&H Publishing
Selected Journalism
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, Common Good, HomeLife Magazine, Mature Living, Well-Watered Women, & Campaign, Fathom Mag (columnist), Desiring God, Journeywomen, She Reads Truth
EXPERIENCE
Director of Museum Education
Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson, MS | 2024–Present● Lead development of historically grounded educational content based on deep archival and scholarly research.● Translate complex historical materials into accessible, engaging narratives for K–12 students, educators, and the general public.● Direct the design of state-standard-aligned curricula; oversee development of interpretive materials and educator guides.
Archival Editorial Consultant (Graduate Assistant)
The Margaret Walker Center, Jackson, MS | September 2023–December 2024● Transcribed and synthesized 50+ oral histories from the Head Start collection.● Supported archival research initiatives and public programming, including the Phillis Wheatley Festival.
Developmental Editor — Scholarly & Research-Based Projects
Independent | 2010–Present● Dissertation Chapter Development — Provided chapter-level developmental editing for Abena Boakyewa-Ansah (Vanderbilt University), strengthening argument clarity, structural coherence, and synthesis of primary and secondary sources.● Manuscript-to-Trade Collaboration — Led a multi-year editorial partnership with a scholar, translating academic research into a public-facing trade manuscript. Project resulted in Ellis securing literary representation with Curtis Yates / Yates & Yates Literary Agency.● Biographical Research — Commissioned by Penn State University / ARDA (2021) to produce biographical entries and historical contextualization for the Association of Religion Data Archives online timeline.● Ongoing Consultancy — Sample edits, comprehensive editorial memos, and research support for archival and public-facing projects.
Research Assistant & Library Curator
The Edmiston Center, Remote | June 2021–July 2022● Assisted in manuscript development and academic research projects.● Conducted research on historical and cultural topics to support faculty work.● Curated and expanded a specialized research library collection.
Humanities & Writing Educator
St. Augustine School | Hope Academy | Trinity Classical | 2012–2021● Taught Humanities, Latin, and Social Studies across grades 5–12.● Guided students through long-form writing projects, including senior thesis development.● Designed curriculum and instructional materials across multiple subject areas.
MEDIA & SPEAKING
Television & Major Media
● Good Morning America, ABC News — Crowned with Glory (February 2024)● C-SPAN Book Festival — "The Complexity of the African American Experience" (September 2025)● C-SPAN, American History — "Civil Rights in Mississippi and Medgar Evers' Activism and Assassination" (September 2025)● C-SPAN Book Festival — "Author Discussion on African Americans and America" (September 2024)
Podcasts
● Let's Talk with Jackie Hill Perry and Melissa Kruger — Co-host, three seasons (2020–2023)446,000+ downloads and 54,000+ unique listeners in first eight weeks; 1,100+ ratings on Apple Podcasts● Carved in Ebony Podcast with Abena Boakyewa-Ansah — Co-host● Sweet Tea with Jasmine & Portia — Co-host● Here's Where It Gets Interesting with Sharon McMahon — Guest, "Pursuing the Truth in History Education"● Be the Bridge Podcast with Latasha Morrison — Guest, "Proclaiming Black Dignity in History" (Ep. 275, 2023)
Substack
Selected Speaking Engagements
● Legacy Conference — "The Cult of Domesticity and Biblical Womanhood" (2017)● Canvas Conference — "Unexpected Song: Langston Hughes and the Theology of Enough" (2017)● The Gospel Coalition National Conference (2018, 2022)● TGC Writers' Workshop — Peer editing and presentation (2018)● Women's Training Network — "The Cult of Domesticity and Biblical Womanhood" (2020)● Mississippi Book Festival — "The Complexity of the African American Experience" (2025)● Mississippi Book festival — Author Discussion on African Americans and America (September 2025)
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2025 Christian Book Awards Finalist — Ephesians (ECPA)
Christianity Today Book Award — Mother to Son
Gospel Coalition Award of Distinction — Never Cast Out
Christianity Today Book Awards — Judge
Areas of Focus
African American History | Cultural History & Memory | Archival Research & Interpretation | Public Scholarship & Pedagogy | Narrative Nonfiction & Crossover Academic Trade
Professional Affiliations
Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)