Terry Delaney ’83 CLAS to Receive 2024 St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal
VILLANOVA, Pa. (July 10, 2024) – The Villanova University Alumni Association (VUAA) has announced the selection of Terry Delaney ’83 CLAS as the recipient of its 2024 St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal. The medal is the highest award given by the VUAA and is presented to alumni for outstanding service and for reflecting the spirit and legacy of St. Thomas of Villanova.
As an alum, Delaney has demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment to his alma mater while excelling as a thought leader and advisor in the health insurance industry. He is renowned for his expertise in simplifying complex health insurance matters and has consulted for mid-sized and large businesses on health, disability and life insurance plans, navigating legislative changes such as the Affordable Care Act.
After 30 years in the health insurance industry, Delaney retired in 2012 to embrace new pursuits, including marathon training, travel and heightening his engagement with the Villanova community. In 2013, he was elected to the VUAA Board of Directors and served for seven years, including two years as president.
Throughout his tenure on the Board, Delaney improved University-alumni communications, enhancing engagement and collaboration. He has actively participated in more than 50 annual events as a University ambassador, including presenting the Young Alumni Medal at fundraisers in Dallas, Chicago and Charlotte. Additionally, he initiated and led the first VUAA Health Summit, which focused on alumni health and wellness initiatives, and co-founded the Villanovans in Healthcare Industry Network, promoting professional development and leadership in the health care sector through networking and collaboration.
“I am thrilled to present Terry with the 2024 St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal,” said Sheila Doherty, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations. “Terry exemplifies leadership, dedication to Villanova University and a commitment to nurturing future generations through education, mentorship, and philanthropy. His impactful contributions continue to enrich the Villanova community and beyond.”
Delaney has built a philanthropic legacy at Villanova through his advocacy for planned giving, providing a sustainable source of support to benefit the University’s long-term financial health. He also served as an alumni giving leader on the first 1842 Day in 2017 and has helped to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration among students at Villanova through his support of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE).
“To receive this award is very humbling and I’m deeply grateful,” Delaney said. “The relationships I’ve built over the years of my involvement, with other alumni, with administration, with faculty and with staff, represent some of the best relationships I have, and that owes to the spirit of the Villanova community.”
Delaney graduated from Villanova University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He began his career in the insurance industry following campus interviews facilitated by Villanova's Career Development Center. Delaney’s tenure at MetLife and later at RSI, which merged with Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, focused on providing strategic employee benefits solutions. He currently resides in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and mentors entrepreneurs by leveraging his extensive business experience to advise startups and promote innovation.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.