In 1966 Jerry received a PhD from Duke University in South Asian history and culture. He was given a position in the University of Missouri History Department in 1967. Among the courses he taught were ones on Gandhi and the history of India. From 1983 to 1986, Jerry was chairman of the History Department. Jerry also held the Middlebush Chair in History from 1987 to 1990 and the Middlebush Chair in Social Sciences from 1999 to 2003.