In Northeast Florida, the Haskell name is synonymous with visionary leadership and strategic investments that strengthen and unite the community. Jacksonville University is honored to name its Public Policy Institute after Preston Haskell, recognizing his decades of stellar support and service to the institution. Haskell’s generous eight-figure gift will help shape the future of academic excellence, community impact and unprecedented opportunities for JU students. The extraordinary commitment will also expand the Institute’s reach across the city, deepen student engagement in civic discourse and public service, and align it more closely with the University’s College of Law.
“I believe in the mission of the Public Policy Institute — to foster civil dialogue and prepare the next generation of public servants,” said Preston Haskell. “At a time when our country needs principled leaders who can bridge divides, this Institute is doing essential work. I'm thankful to everyone who has built this program, and I'm confident these students will make meaningful contributions to Jacksonville and beyond.”
The expanded presence of the Haskell Public Policy Institute in the heart of the city, within the University’s College of Law, offers students direct access to government offices, community leaders and the legislative process. The downtown site will serve as a hub for research, discussion and collaboration, while maintaining a continued presence on Jacksonville University’s main campus.
"I'm so grateful and appreciative for the Haskell name to be associated with the Public Policy Institute because that's the standard for our students to look to as a role model,” said Rick Mullaney, Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute and Robert T. Shircliff Chair in Public Policy. “There's a hunger for role models and knowing what excellence looks like. Preston Haskell stands for excellence, he is the embodiment of what this Public Policy Institute is all about.”
Preston Haskell's involvement as a founding member of the Public Policy Institute Board of Advisors has been instrumental in attracting prominent civic leaders and guiding the Institute's strategic direction. Since its founding in 2012, the Public Policy Institute has established itself as Florida's premier forum for nonpartisan civic dialogue and leadership development. The Institute partnered with WJXT Channel 4 in 2015 and has grown to more than 100 appearances a year on local, national and international TV and radio. The Institute has hosted 12 televised debates in local, state, and federal elections, including gubernatorial primary debates, mayoral forums, and sheriff's races. It has also hosted more than 140 public policy programs on campus, consistently bringing together thought leaders from across the political spectrum to foster meaningful civic engagement and prepare the next generation of principled public servants.
“Preston Haskell’s investment is a milestone moment for this University and for the city we serve,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. “The Haskell Public Policy Institute is well-positioned to shape the future of civic leadership and public service in this region, equipping students with the skills, experiences and values needed to lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving world.”
The Institute established Florida’s first Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree program in 2013. It also established the first MPP-JD, MPP-Marine Science and MPP-MBA dual degree programs in Florida. Jacksonville University is the only university in Florida to offer an MPP-JD dual degree program and one of the few in the nation to offer an MPP-Marine Science dual degree program.
In 2019, Haskell’s leadership played a pivotal role in establishing the Robert T. Shircliff Endowed Chair in Public Policy, thereby ensuring continued institutional support for the executive director position. In 2024, the Institute honored former Jacksonville Sheriff and Edward Waters University President Nathaniel Glover with the naming of the MPP Nathaniel Glover Fellowship Program, which provides full scholarships, stipends, and internships in the Jacksonville Mayor's Office for emerging public policy leaders.
"The Haskell Public Policy Institute represents the kind of strategic institutional investment that positions Jacksonville University for long-term success,” said Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Scott Bacon. “This recognition reflects our commitment to building programs that serve our students as well as our broader community. As we continue to strengthen partnerships across Northeast Florida, initiatives like the Haskell Institute demonstrate how thoughtful philanthropy can create lasting value that extends far beyond our campus and impact future generations of students.”
As Preston Haskell challenged graduates in his 2009 Commencement keynote at Jacksonville University: “Use your talents, insight and intellect to make a better world, a better nation and a better city.”
