Dr. Mark Munoz: Possibly the most published Filipino business author in the U.S.

Dr. J. Mark Munoz, a business scholar in Illinois may yet be the most published Filipino American academic author in the United States.

He has authored and edited more than 30 books on business & management and technology and just released three more recently. They are:

–“Digital Leadership: Concepts and Cases.” Published in February 2025, this pioneering volume gathers insights from global experts on how emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things are shaping corporate strategy and competitive advantage.

–“Technology Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice” is a book co-edited by Dr. J. Mark Munoz and Dr. Orestis Terzidis, a professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. This book explores the intersection of science, engineering, and entrepreneurship designed to equip engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs with the strategic tools needed to bring new innovations to market.

–“Evolution of Management Practice,” is a guide for executives, consultants, and educators adapting to a changing contemporary business environment.

The Zamboanga City-born Munoz, has been a business professor in the U.S. for over 20 years. He has double post-graduate degrees — MBA and PhD in Management — and is currently a tenured Full Professor of Management at Millikin University, a private college in Decatur, Illinois.

“Before he came to the U.S., he worked as a front desk clerk at a hotel in Cebu, became a sales executive for an oil company, and ended up as country manager for a European tech company for the Philippine operations. A career pathway that is consistently moving upward.

His first U.S. job was director for U.S. and Asia-Pacific for a market research firm. He moved to the U.S. in the late 90s and his family soon followed him in New Jersey in late 1990 until he joined academia as a professor at Millikin University.

“I’ve been in academia ever since. On the side, I write books and do business consulting worldwide,” he shared when reached by The FilAm. He was a former Visiting Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He has long set his sights on joining the academe with his rich business background, both in practice and through extensive research. With his advanced degrees he applied for multiple positions across the country. The first offer came from Millikin University.

“I accepted the offer to join Millikin University as an assistant professor in 2001. I have been with them since then,” he said. He rose to the rank of full professor and at one point served for one year as Interim Dean for the Tabor School of Business at the university. During that time, he received the Distinguished Business Dean Award from the Academy of Global Business Advancement. His philosophy in life is: “We’re like seeds that can be blown by the wind anytime and anywhere in the world, the important thing is wherever we land we should do our best to grow and make a difference.”

In the U.S., he has made a difference in business education. He taught courses such as Business Creation, International Business Consulting, International Immersion and Global Business Strategy, among many areas of studies. He ended up receiving multiple awards for his efforts in incorporating innovative teaching methodologies.

“I had the opportunity to take students to different countries around the world for research projects and other educational programs. In my classes, I am currently doing pro bono class projects to help companies from all over the world plan for their international strategy,” he said. On two occasions, according to the Millikin website, Munoz has led teams of students as consultants for Ecuador, who was then developing a market strategy as it prepares to enter the U.S. handicrafts market.

With a very busy schedule as a professor, author and consultant, he has very little free time. When he can, he enjoys traveling with his family, walking in parks, swimming, and watching concerts and movies. He has four children, two from a past marriage and two with his current  wife Melanie, a recently retired CPA and accounting executive. His children are:  Marijka, a finance manager and commercial model in Chicago; Paolo, a real estate and tech entrepreneur in Cebu; Maria Markiesha, a doctor of nurse practitioner in Saint Louis, Missouri; and John, a corporate executive in Chicago.

“The kids are all grown up and living their own busy lives,” he said, pleased at all the blessings that have come his way. While none of his children has chosen to follow his academic and writing career, Munoz said they are all “continuing their father’s legacy of leveraging their talents and abilities to grow where they have landed and make a difference in the best way they can.” — Cristina DC Pastor