Coco Owen has an M.A. in comparative literature from UCLA and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology (cultural psychology emphasis) from the California School of Professional Psychology-San Diego. She is a licensed psychologist who concentrates on working with women in mid-life transitions, encore careers, and with older adults. (See www.cocoowenphd.com for more information about her practice.)

She worked at Reed College as a therapist and assistant dean of student services and taught psychology at Mt. Hood Community College. She worked as an editor and advisor for ZHISHIQ, advising Chinese students applying for graduate study and has given workshops on cross-cultural issues, crisis management with international students, and on various topics in poetry and creativity.

Coco had two chapbooks published in 2016: Dress Forms, from dancing girl press, and Scar let Woe man, from Tammy. Her poems have appeared in the Antioch Review, 1913: A Journal of Forms, The Journal, Cirque, Tidal Basin Review, Umbrella Journal, Rio Grande Review, CutBank, etc. She has been a finalist for The May Swenson Poetry Award, the Imaginary Friends Press book contest and the Patricia Bibby First Book Contest, among others.