Chen graduated from China Medical University with a master's degree in environmental medicine.
[1] She began her political career working for the Chiayi City Environmental Protection Bureau and later the Department of Health.
[2] She defeated Lee Chun-yi in a party primary, and the DPP backed Chen as its Chiayi mayoral candidate for the 2005 elections.
[3][4] She lost to Kuomintang candidate Huang Min-hui, who left the legislature to assume the mayoralty.
[5] Chen then contested Huang's vacant legislative seat on behalf of the DPP, and lost to Chiang Yi-hsiung.