Jalen studied French at Phillips Exeter Academy and Tulane University. He worked as a teacher in France through TAPIF after college. Now that he has returned to Maine, he works with the intake staff during the day and teaches at night. He speaks French fluently but can understand Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

He worked with children all through high school and college, including at Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans. On why Jalen pursued teaching, he shared, "One day during high school, languages just clicked and I knew what I wanted to do with my life: help anyone of any age that is trying to learn our language as I know how difficult that process can be."

In his downtime, he loves sports, especially basketball, baseball and football; arguing and playing with his orange cat (Ferguson); reading; and binge watching shows.