John Adrian Delaney (born June 29, 1956) is an American lawyer, politician, and university and college President. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 1995 to 2003, and as the president of the University of North Florida from 2003 to 2018. In 2021, he was named President of Flagler College after a few months as Interim. He is a member of the Republican Party. Early life Delaney was born in Lansing, Michigan, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. His family moved to Jacksonville when he was sixteen. His father, Jim, was a mid-level executive with General Motors, retiring from GM in 1982, and retiring again in the mid-1990’s after being later-rehired by GM. His mother, Mary Anne (Langius) was a school teacher, retiring after John and his brothers were born. Her father, Adrian Nelson (Gus) Langius was the long time State of Michigan Architect (FAIA) and state Building State Director. Jim and Mary Anne went to high school together, but didn’t start dating until sophomores at college. Mary Anne transferred from the University of Michigan to Jim’s Michigan State University, where both graduated. John has two younger brothers, James Langius (Gus,) a retired long time budget analyst and auditor for the state of Florida, and Joe, a crime analyst for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from Terry Parker High School in 1974. He was Captain of the Debate Team, was a regional champion and was offered several debate scholarships to colleges/universities, including the University of Florida. He declined the scholarships to focus on his studies. At the University of Florida, he joined Delta Upsilon fraternity, graduated in 3 years and received a B.A. in 1977. He did some post-baccalaureate work before starting law school in 1978. In 1981, he received a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He later received an Honorary Doctorate from Edward Waters College, now Edward Waters University. Delaney and his wife Gena met in 1979 and married in 1980. She graduated from UF, then went on after their first two children were born to obtain a Nursing degree. She worked at St Vincent’s Hospital. They reside in Neptune Beach, a town on a barrier island off the coast of the mainland of Jacksonville. Their house is the home Gena grew up in. They have four children: Bill (Katie), Adrian (Will) Milford, Meg (Drake) Skinner and Jimmy (Payton.) John and Gena have