About Us

Maria and Jalen pose together in sunglasses in Paris, France.

We are Jalen and Maria, a married couple of TAPIF alumni and master’s degree graduates from the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne living and working in France. We are excited to share our experiences and knowledge with you. Want to learn French? Interested in studying abroad? Need information about TAPIF? Thinking of coming to France for your higher education? Hoping to get a job in France? Intrigued by French culture? Curious about how an American couple ended up in France? The Francofile has something for everyone.


Jalen is a laid-back 27-year-old who enjoys bad weather, foreign languages, photography, and, of course, all things French. He recently graduated from the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne with a master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. He is currently working a Logistics role in the Packaging sector in France. Learn more about Jalen here.
Maria is a 27-year-old pescatarian, houseplant enthusiast, horror movie connoisseur, and life-long lover of French language and culture. She recently graduated from the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne with a master’s degree in Public Law: European Integration and Global Governance. She currently holds a position dealing with International Relations in the context of Higher Education in France. Learn more about Maria here.