A former Fortune 500 executive who spent more than two decades leading global business functions before transitioning into higher education is now bringing that experience to Texas Tech.
Chia-Li Chien, Ph.D., CFP®, PMP®, CPBC (pronounced “Jolly Jan”), joins Texas Tech as an associate professor of practice and director of the Center for Financial Responsibility (CFR) in the School of Financial Planning. Before entering academia, Chien held senior leadership positions with Fortune 500 organizations including Diageo, ABB, Cigna, and RSA Insurance Group, and built an independent, fee-based financial planning practice of her own.
That path continues to shape her approach to teaching, leaning on real-world case studies. Students leave not just understanding theory, but are more prepared and confident about applying that knowledge to real people, organizations, and problems.
A career built partly on pro bono financial planning made Texas Tech and the CFR a logical next chapter for Chien.
“The opportunity to continue that work through the Center for Financial Responsibility while also creating meaningful learning experiences for students made Texas Tech a particularly good fit for me,” she said. “The Center already has an important vision and mission, and I see my role as helping bring that vision to life in partnership with faculty, students, staff, community partners, and supporters. What attracted me to the CFR is how closely its work aligns with my own values: improving financial well-being, serving communities, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, and connecting research with practice.”
Her research focuses on retirement planning, retirement spending behavior, financial well-being, and advisor development, and is influenced by questions pulled straight from real life.
“Much of my research begins with a practical question or problem that I have encountered through clients, colleagues, friends, family members, or even my own experiences,” Chien said. “I tend to ask, ‘Why is this happening, and is there a better way to approach it?’”
Her findings have often challenged a common assumption about academic research itself.
“One misconception I have encountered is that academic theories do not always translate well into real life,” Chien said. “My research has often shown me the opposite. When we thoughtfully apply theory to real-world problems, it can help us better understand financial psychology and develop practical solutions that improve financial decision-making and well-being.”
In the classroom, that translates to fewer lectures and more case studies. “There is not always one perfect answer,” she said. “Part of the job is teaching students to weigh alternatives and exercise judgment anyway.”
Chien has also written three award-winning books, speaks nationally on financial planning, and is an avid traveler, having visited 41 states and 20 countries, with a goal of visiting more.
“For me, travel is about much more than seeing new places. It is an opportunity to learn from different people, cultures, and ways of life,” Chien said. “Those experiences continually remind me how much there is to learn from others—a perspective I hope to bring with me as I begin this new chapter at Texas Tech.”
To learn more about Chien's work or connect with the Center for Financial Responsibility, contact her at Chia-Li.Chien@ttu.edu.