John Delaney

President, Flagler College, St. Augustine

Flagler College has 2,400 students and is located in the 135-year-old Ponce de Leon Hotel, built by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, and on surrounding properties. The school has a nearly $1-billion economic impact on St. Augustine. Its education, business and hospitality management programs are major feeders to employers. The school is doing a complete restoration of the main building and the campus has appeared in Top 10 lists for Prettiest Campuses in the World and Top 10 Dining Hall Spaces. The Dining Hall is listed as one of the United State’s 500 most important rooms. Delaney has been president for three years.

EDUCATION: University of Florida (BA, JD)

MENTOR: The most influential person outside of family was former Jacksonville State Attorney and later Mayor Ed Austin. Complete integrity, intellectually consistent, and perpetually in pursuit of fairness and progress.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: My dad always used to say: 'It will all work out.' He has proven to be 100% correct. Don’t over-worry things.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA
“Utopia: how can we make things better? Someone, somewhere has figured out a better way.”