Courses Taught

MBA 502: Managerial Accounting
MBA 590: Data Analytics Practicum
MBA 590: Financial Planning for Innovation

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic cost management
• Performance measurement for world-class manufacturing systems
• Total Quality Management (TQM)
• Ethics in accounting
• Economic consequences of accounting standards
• Financial reporting and tax considerations

Education

• D.B.A., Accounting, Georgia Institute of Technology
• M.S.M., Management, Georgia Institute of Technology
• B.A., Accounting, Chinese Culture University

Notable Accolades

• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising, 2025

Teaching and Student Engagement

A passionate advocate for applied learning, Professor Chen provides students with unique opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world contexts. He has led multiple interdisciplinary practicum experiences, including a high-impact project with the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO), where students conducted compliance audits for Coronavirus Relief Fund recipients across the state. His approach emphasizes professional responsibility, practical skill-building, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to public service.

Chen also has an impressive record of mentoring students in national case competitions. He has served as faculty advisor to numerous NC State teams that were selected as finalists or winners in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) National Student Video Case Competitions. His teams earned top honors at IMA Annual Conferences across the country. In addition, he advised the NC State IMA Student Chapter, which received a Bronze Certificate of Excellence. His mentorship has helped develop students’ presentation, research, and teamwork skills and earned national recognition for NC State.

Research Interests

Professor Chen’s research explores the intersection of accounting, strategic cost management and ethical business practices. His early research investigated the economic effects of accounting policy changes, using financial analyst forecast dispersion to measure investor expectations. This interest evolved into a broader examination of manufacturing and cost management strategies that drive competitive advantage in global markets.

More recently, his work has integrated strategic cost management with quality improvement and supply chain risk management, focusing on how firms can use these tools to align with ethical practices and long-term sustainability goals. His research also informs his outreach to industry partners, contributing to applied projects and interdisciplinary programs that advance both scholarship and education.

Industry and Community Impact

Professor Chen has contributed to national conversations on corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting, providing recommendations to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) to improve how companies calculate and interpret efficiency improvements.

Why Poole College?

Chen values Poole College’s commitment to applied learning, ethical leadership and community engagement. The college’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world problem solving aligns with his passion for empowering students to think critically and contribute to the public good.