Dr. Dennis Chen

Biography

Dr. Dennis C. Chen is an Professor of Management and International Business at Belmont University.   He received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky as well as a MBA degree from Baylor University and a BE degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.  He has seventeen years of operations, engineering, and R&D management experience within multinational companies, specifically in the consumer products disposable diaper business.

Dr. Chen lived and worked in China on a two year international assignment as the startup plant manager for a production facility outside Shanghai, China.  He has since visited China and Taiwan on multiple occasions, leading groups of undergraduate and MBA students on study abroad trips.

Dr. Chen teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in operations and supply chain management and international business and has also taught several executive education courses for Belmont’s Center for Executive Education.  In his operations management course, he emphasizes systems thinking and continuous improvement utilizing lean and six sigma methods.  He also volunteers with TNCPE to help TN organizations continuously improve using the Baldridge framework. His current research interests are in the areas of supply chain relationships, supply chain social responsibility, and lean Six Sigma implementation.

Education & Certifications

• Ph.D. - University of Kentucky, Business Administration,  Supply Chain Management concentration 
• M.B.A. - Baylor University
• B.E. - Vanderbilt University, Honors in Mechanical Engineering, magna cum laude

Professional Experience

• Professor of Management and International Business, Belmont University
• Assistant Professor of Management and International Business, Belmont University
• Adjunct Faculty, Western Kentucky University
• Engineering manager, SCA Personal Care, Bowling Green, KY
• R&D Process Manager, Paragon Trade Brands, Norcross, GA
• Plant Manager, Goodbaby Paragon Hygenic Products Company, Kunshan, China
• Research Scientist and Product Developer, Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH

Recent Publications

• York, G.S., Wainright, C., and Chen D.C. (2017).  Healthcare Supply Chain Management: An Instructive Model Designed to Create Service Value.  Journal of Health Administration Education 34 (4), 525-559.
• Cannonier, C., Chen, D., and Smolira J.  (2016).  The effect of a homework grade cap in an Introductory Finance Class.  Journal of Education for Business 91 (2), 95-100.
• Chen, D. C., Overby, J., & Padgett, B. (2014).  Sprinkles Cupcakes: A Case Study of Creating a Successful Internationalizaion Strategy.   Journal of International Academy for Case Studies.    

• Chen, Dennis C. and Holsapple, Clyde W., (2009).  Knowledge Shared is Power: Utilizing Knowledge Management Activities to Replicate Lean Sigma Best Practices.   Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal, 2009, v. 1 No. 2, 90-102.

Honors & Awards

• United States Patent 7,838,721, "Disposable Articles Using High Column AUL Super Absorbents," issued November 23, 2010
• Most Inspirational Professor Award, August 2018, Massey PMBA Graduating Class
• Outstanding Teaching Award, 2016, Massey College of Business
• Finalist for University of Kentucky Provost's 2011 Outstanding Teaching Award
• Gatton College Luckett Fellowship, Kentucky Opportunity Fellowship, and Max Steckler Fellowship, University of Kentucky
• Best Teacher Award, Department of DSIS, University of Kentucky