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Times Staff WriterThe trustees' choice has raised some concern among the school's faculty.
JACKSONVILLE - The University of North Florida named Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney its next president Tuesday despite faculty concerns over his limited academic background.
The UNF board of trustees, composed primarily of business and community leaders, voted 11-2 to hire Delaney.
The two-term mayor is the third politician picked to head a Florida university in the past six months. He will leave the mayor's office June 30.
"UNF is truly one of our city's greatest assets," Delaney said. "I look forward to the exciting challenge and to working together with the board, staff, faculty, the community and our Legislature and governor to bring UNF to an even greater level."
The trustees picked Delaney over Gary Krahenbuhl, senior vice president and deputy provost of Arizona State University. Delaney will replace president Anne Hopkins, who resigned last summer for health reasons.
Delaney said his strengths include the ability to raise money, work with the community and elevate the school's reputation.
"His proven track record of leadership will be a valuable asset to the university," board chairwoman Carol Thompson said.
Much of Tuesday's discussion focused on whether the school would be best served by choosing someone with an academic or a political background.
Delaney has no full-time experience at a university, though he teaches an occasional class at UNF and the University of Florida, where he received his bachelor's and law degrees. Krahenbuhl has a doctorate.
Ten former UNF faculty association presidents urged the school to hire a president with traditional academic credentials.
"We need a president who understands how universities work," said professor Judith Solano, who signed the letter and spoke Tuesday. "Gary Krahenbuhl has a lifetime of experiences."
UNF, one of the state's youngest schools, has 15,000 students and 400 faculty members.
In December, Florida State University in Tallahassee hired former state House Speaker T.K. Wetherell as its new leader. A few weeks later, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton named then-Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan its president.
Delaney, 46, first spoke about his interest in the UNF job late last year and quickly was deemed the heavy favorite.
Thompson will negotiate a contract with Delaney, who is expected to receive a significant raise over his mayoral salary of $150,000. Hopkins earned $174,100, and UNF's interim president, David Kline, makes $165,000.
The Board of Governors, the group that oversees the 11 public universities in Florida, is expected to approve the selection.