Vice President for Mission and Ministry Named

University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., announced the reinstatement of the vice president for mission and ministry position and division at Scranton and named Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J. H’06, to serve in that role. Father Keller serves as rector of the Scranton Jesuit Community. He also served as interim president at the University from June 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, and most recently as the University’s special assistant to the president.

“The University’s mission and our pastoral care of students, faculty and staff are a central and shared responsibility for everyone on campus. I have long believed that it is critical for the composition of the leadership team of the University to reflect that importance,” Father Pilarz said in an announcement to the University community regarding the reinstatement of the position and division.

In the same announcement, Father Pilarz said that Father Keller, in his new role as vice president, “will be an important voice for mission-related issues and concerns, working with divisions across campus. He will be an advisor to me in my work as a member of the President’s Cabinet, will serve as the liaison for a newly established Mission committee of the Board of Trustees, and when needed, will represent me at events on- or off-campus.”

The University’s Jesuit Center, Campus Ministries, the Center for Service and Social Justice, the University Chaplain and Liturgical Music will fall under the division.

Father Keller has served as the rector of the Scranton Jesuit Community since September 2015. Prior to that, he served for 18 years as president of Scranton Preparatory School and is the longest-serving president in the Jesuit school’s history.

Father Keller entered the Jesuit novitiate in Wernersville in 1969. In 1975, he received a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Fordham University. He earned a master’s degree with distinction from Weston School of Theology in Boston and a professional diploma in secondary school administration from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education. He was ordained a priest in 1981 and has served in Jesuit secondary education for more than 35 years.

Father Keller was named principal of Scranton Prep in 1983 and served in that capacity for eight years. From 1991 to 1997, he served as principal at his alma mater, Saint Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. During his tenure there, Father Keller was appointed as rector of the Jesuit community at Saint Joseph’s Prep. In 1997, he was named president of Scranton Preparatory School.

In 2016, Father Keller served as a delegate from the Maryland Province for the Society of Jesus' General Congregation 36. In 2006, he received an honorary doctoral degree from The University of Scranton.