James Mustich, a nationally renowned author, editor and digital innovator, recently joined Iona University to serve as senior advisor to the president. He comes from Apple Books where he served as head of the U.S. Book Store since 2021.
A serial innovator who has successfully reimagined how traditional industries can evolve in the digital space, Mustich previously served as executive-in-residence at Iona from 2019-2021. During that time, he helped guide Iona on a path of innovation that contributed to the university’s expansive growth despite the headwinds of the pandemic. During his tenure, Mustich implemented new strategies focused on three primary goals: fostering student success, promoting academic excellence and distinctiveness, and attracting and retaining top talent.
Many of these strategies continue to benefit Iona as the university expands opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom, growing new student enrollment nearly 30% since 2019. Notably, The “Princeton Review” included Iona in its 2024 “Best 389 Colleges” nationwide for the first time this year. “The Wall Street Journal” also ranked Iona as the No.66 Best College in America, including the No. 8 best Catholic college in the nation and No.1 for student experience in New York. Iona also tied Yale as the No. 4 most recommended college by students in the Northeast in the 2024 WSJ rankings.
In his new role, Mustich will play a lead role in the research of data, trends and technological innovations that influence higher education, thereby helping to inform key projects. Working closely with the president, Mustich will be responsible for proposals and pilot projects that continue to enhance Iona’s position as an industry leader. Mustich will also work closely with the provost and be instrumental in supporting faculty development and training initiatives to meet the challenges of new technology and the evolving educational landscape.
Mustich, author of the acclaimed “1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List,” began his career as a bookseller and editor and would go on to help revolutionize the industry. He co-founded and published the mail-order book catalog, “A Common Reader: Books for Readers with Imagination,” which was circulated to hundreds of thousands of readers, and then successfully translated that passion into the digital age.
As a senior leader at Barnes & Noble for nearly 14 years, Mustich developed and launched numerous new products. He notably was the founding editor of the Barnes & Noble Review, an online literary journal, and went on to serve as vice president of business innovation and then vice president of digital products. In these roles, he developed and launched apps and experiences that brought the power of digital technology to the world of book discovery. He also developed and served as executive producer of the Barnes & Noble Podcast.
