Delaney was born and raised in northern Michigan and went on to attend the University of Michigan, earning a B.S. in economics and cognitive science. While there, she worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Social Research and wrote a thesis quantifying the impact of paid parental leave programs on the economic outcomes of low-income mothers in the state of California. After graduating, Delaney moved to Washington, D.C., to start work at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). She worked in CBO's Financial Analysis Division for three years, concentrating primarily on issues related to the federal student loan program, government housing agencies, and bank regulation. This past summer, Delaney worked as a research intern at the Brookings Institution. Through the MPA program, she hopes to develop policy analysis skills which she can eventually use to evaluate and design government programs intended to serve low-income communities. In her free time, Delaney is an avid reader and enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and watching Michigan sports.