She is considered to be the first American-born Chinese to publish a novel in the United States.

[1][2] She attended high school in New York, and graduated cum laude from Barnard College in 1949 where she majored in English, focusing on British and American poets.

[3] While an undergraduate at Barnard, Chang had 3 of her poems published by Poetry Magazine, including "At The Window.

[1][4] She also worked as the editor for the PEN-sponsored journal American Pen and as a creative writing teacher at Barnard College.

[3][5] Chang lived in Water Mill, NY with her husband David Hermann.