Title:Called to be…in public service

The Honorable John K. Delaney (L’88, Parent’22)

John Delaney is an entrepreneur, business leader, and public servant. He represented the 6th Congressional District in Maryland from 2013-2019 and served on the Georgetown University Board of Directors. Find out how the Law Center helped Delaney start on the path he’s on today.

What do you wish people knew about Georgetown?

The thing about Georgetown is that it instills in you this sense that you have to be committed to the world around you, and that’s actually what public service is about. I learned so many lessons at the Law Center about being an attorney—which obviously informs how I operate on Capitol Hill—but at the center is this notion of being a committed person for others. 

Georgetown has an amazing alumni community. We’ve got great people leading the charge. We come together every year at John Carroll Weekend, which is a terrific party and celebration. The university ethos gets embedded in all of its graduates. 

[President Emeritus DeGioia] always talks about how Georgetown makes a disproportionate difference in the world. Georgetown is one of the few American universities that is truly recognized around the globe and with that comes a huge amount of responsibility and stewardship of the Georgetown brand, mission, and Jesuit tradition. 

In recognition of his achievements and service, Delaney received the John Carroll Award in Dublin, Ireland, on April 20, 2024. The John Carroll Award is named for Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in North America and founder of Georgetown University. Established in 1951, this award is conferred upon alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown and its founder.