Buffalo, NY – Canisius University alumnus and lifelong educator Rev. Robert E. Reiser ’86, SJ, has been appointed provincial of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, the largest Jesuit province in the United States. As provincial, Father Reiser will serve as the superior and chief pastoral leader for more than 600 Jesuit priests and brothers, and will guide the province’s apostolic works, which include colleges and universities, secondary schools, parishes and retreat houses across the eastern United States.
Father Reiser was appointed by Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus. He will begin his term on July 31, 2026, succeeding Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ, the first provincial of the USA East Province.
“Father Reiser’s appointment is a source of great pride for the entire Canisius University family,” said President Steve Stoute. “His formation here, combined with decades of service to the Society of Jesus, has prepared him well for this important ministry and we offer our prayers and support for his leadership as provincial.”
A native of Buffalo, Father Reiser earned a bachelor of science degree from Canisius University in 1986 before entering the Society of Jesus that same year. His Jesuit formation included studies at Fordham University and the Weston School of Theology. Father Reiser was ordained a priest in 1997 and later earned a master’s degree in theology from Harvard Divinity School.
Father Reiser has served extensively in Jesuit secondary and pre-secondary education and has held leadership roles as president of Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City and McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester. He also served on the faculty and as director of campus ministry at Canisius High School from 1997-1999. Most recently, Father Reiser was executive director of the Jesuit Schools Network of North America and secretary for pre-secondary and secondary education for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.
In addition to his administrative leadership, Father Reiser has served on the boards of trustees of several Jesuit high schools, colleges and universities, and has been deeply involved in shaping Jesuit education nationally.
“I am especially grateful to Father Reiser for accepting this important mission of provincial,” said Father O’Keefe. “His extensive experience, deep faith and generous service to the Church and the Society will be a great gift to our province.”
The USA East Province was formed in 2020 through the unification of the former Maryland and USA Northeast Provinces and today includes 11 colleges and universities, 26 middle and high schools, 17 parishes, six retreat centers and two international schools. The provincial serves as the visionary leader responsible for the formation, well-being and mission alignment of Jesuits throughout the province, meeting regularly with Jesuits and leaders of Jesuit works to discern priorities and guide apostolic ministries.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
