Charlene Chen
| |
| Designation | Member of Parliament |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Party | PAP 
|
Charlene Chen Yijun (born 1981 or 1982) is a Singaporean politician, academic, and psychologist. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), she has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tampines East division of Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 3 May 2025. She is concurrently an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where she researches consumer behavior, sustainability, and socioeconomic inequality.[1]
Early Life and Education
Charlene Chen earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences (First Class Honours) in Psychology from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2005.[2] She then pursued graduate studies at Columbia University in New York, obtaining a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in 2010, a Master of Philosophy in Marketing in 2013, and a Ph.D. in Marketing in 2015.[1]
Career
From 2006 to 2008, Chen worked as a police psychologist with the Singapore Police Force.[1] In 2015, she joined NTU's Nanyang Business School as an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Division. Her research interests include the psychology of socioeconomic inequality, sustainable consumer behavior, and future-oriented decision-making. She also serves as Deputy Director of Industry Relations and Consulting at the Nanyang Centre for Marketing and Technology.[1]
She has received accolades such as the Nanyang Business School Teaching Excellence Award in 2019 and the Research Excellence Award in 2018. Her work has appeared in leading journals including the Journal of Consumer Research and Consumer Psychology Review.[1]
Political career
In May 2024, Chen was appointed to the Tampines Town Council for a two-year term. In June 2024, she was introduced as a grassroots leader for Tampines East ward following the resignation of former MP Cheng Li Hui.[3] In the 2025 general election, she was part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Tampines GRC. The team won with 52.02% of the vote, and Chen succeeded Cheng as MP for Tampines East.[4]
As a parliamentarian, Chen advocates for sustainability, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment. She has supported digital literacy programs and organized community events aimed at enhancing social cohesion.[1]
Scandals or Controversies
As of June 2025, there are no reported controversies or scandals involving Charlene Chen. Her tenure in both academia and politics has remained free of public misconduct or disciplinary investigations.
Personal life
Chen is married and has two children. She occasionally shares insights about balancing academic, political, and family responsibilities in interviews and public forums.[4]
References