[3] Born in Xianyou County, Fujian Province, Chen graduated from the department of physics at Fudan University.

She pursued her postgraduate degree at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, doing research of solid-state physics.

At the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Chen was sent to work in an army farm for two years before returning to the Institute.

After that, she was elevated to vice Party Chief of the Institute, and thus transformed from a scholar to a CCP official.

[citation needed] In August 1997, Chen was transferred to central government and appointed as vice director and leader of Party group of National Education Commission.