Dr. Jalen Manor Represents A Legacy of Firsts at USCB
Dr. Jalen Manor’s story begins in the Lowcountry, but his reach extends beyond any classroom or clinic.
Manor is a Clinical Assistant Professor to USCB’s Nursing students— yet his connection to the university runs much deeper than they may know. He is a proud 2016 graduate of USCB’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, and he holds a historic place in the university’s legacy: the first African American male to complete the nursing program, and later, the first African American male nursing faculty member to teach within it.
Manor was born and raised in Estill, a small town about 40 miles from USCB. His interest
in healthcare started early, shaped by watching nurses care for his grandmother and
by the example of a cousin who built a career as a pharmacist and the owner of her
own pharmacy.
Manor came to USCB as a deterimed graduate of an under-resourced high school. He credits
the special relationships he built with his Nursing professors — especially Susan
Williams — for helping him succeed at the university.
"I had a strong support system that believed I could succeed," he said. "They encouraged
me, but they also held me accountable and expected me to give my best."
His pursuit of excellence didn’t stop at USCB's commencement ceremony. In 2019, Manor earned his Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus from the University of South Carolina. In 2022, he earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Georgia Southern University.
"From early on, I set a goal of earning the highest degree possible," he said. "I was an accomplishment I wanted for myself, and I believe those credentials speak before I ever have to."
Manor is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. — organizations that revolve around scholarly achievement, leadership and service.
After graduation, he went on to work in the Intensive Care Unit at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the Cardiac Intermediate Care/Medical-Surgical unit at Memorial Health University Medical Center, and a skilled nursing facility. He has also worked as a prison psychiatrict nurse.
"This was unlike anything I had experienced in nursing," he said. "It taught me the importance of advocating for patients in every situation and deepened my understanding of what it truly means to be a nurse and a patient advocate."
Manor's early experiences in a close, multi-generational family and natural affinity for older adults shaped his compassionate approach to care. This "people first" approach continues to influence his teaching today.
For Manor, returning to USCB as a professor was more than a career move—it was a homecoming. As an alumnus, he carries immense pride in the program that shaped him. As a faculty member, he is determined to elevate it even further.
He teaches several foundational and advanced courses, including: NURS B105 – Concepts,
Communications, and Calculations; NURS B312 – Health Assessment; NURS B320 – Clinical
Pharmacology; NURS B326C – Clinical Care of Adults with Acute and Chronic Conditions
In each course, his goal is clear: prepare students to step confidently into today's
healthcare landscape, where patients are older, with more chronic illnesses, acuity
is higher, and the need for skilled, compassionate nurses has never been greater.
He emphasizes strong fundamentals, sharp critical thinking, and a commitment to delivering
the highest quality of care.
"Our responsibility is to prepare students for the realities of nursing," he said. "That means challenging them, supporting them, and helping them develop into safe, competent and compassionate nurses."
Manor and Nursing graduate ('26) Cadarius Palmer
Manor is proud to have served as a mentor to Cardarius Palmer ('26), USCB's second
Black male Nursing graduate. Encouraging and guiding Palmer was a priviledge, he
said.
"Cadarius has a big heart. I saw that he was the kind of person who had compassion
and would hold someone's hand what it's their last moments and family wasn't around,"
Manor said.
He is also happy to see nursing becoming a more diverse profession. While significant disparities remain compared to the broader U.S. population, the number of underrepresented groups and men in the field has steadily increased. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nurses of color now make up about 23% to 33% of the registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) workforce. This represents the highest level of diversity seen in the field over the last two decades. The number of men in nursing has also grown, currently making up around 10.4% of the RN workforce.
- USCB -
CW 04/15/2026