She has a B.Eng. in Fashion Design from the Xiamen University of Technology and a M.F.A. in Fashion Design, from the University of North Texas. In addition to teaching, she also has industry experience working as a fashion designer and technical designer in both China and the United States. Chen’s research focuses on developing new and innovative ways to infuse concepts of fashion sustainability into her culturally inspired designs. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) and the Costume Society of America.