$12 million gift to university from civic and business leader Preston Haskell

Jacksonville University has renamed its Public Policy Institute and expanded its footprint downtown following a $12 million gift from longtime civic and business leader Preston Haskell.

The university announced that the newly named Haskell Public Policy Institute will continue to operate on JU’s Arlington campus while adding a significant downtown presence within the university’s College of Law, blocks from City Hall and the state and federal courthouses. The expansion, JU leaders said, will allow students to engage more directly with the workings of government and public life in Jacksonville.

The $12 million donation marks one of the most significant gifts in the university’s history. It will strengthen academic programs, faculty, and community engagement while expanding opportunities for students to study and work in public policy.

University President Tim Cost described the gift as transformational, noting that it “will help shape the future of academic excellence, community impact, and unprecedented opportunities for JU students.”

Unlike many large gifts that focus on new buildings, Haskell’s donation is designed to fund people, programs, and long-term impact rather than bricks and mortar.

Preston Haskell is widely regarded as one of Jacksonville’s most influential civic figures. A Princeton and Harvard graduate, he founded The Haskell Company in 1965, pioneering the design-build approach that revolutionized the construction industry.

Under his leadership, Haskell became an international leader in integrated design and construction, and he later co-founded the Design-Build Institute of America to promote the model nationwide.

Beyond business, Haskell has been a significant force in the city’s civic and cultural life, serving on boards of the Jacksonville Symphony, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the United Way, and numerous community organizations.

Haskell has supported Jacksonville University for decades and was among the founding members of the Public Policy Institute’s Board of Advisers when it launched in 2012.

His latest gift reflects a long-held belief that universities play a central role in shaping civic leadership.

“At a time when our country needs principled leaders who can bridge divides,” Haskell said at the announcement, “this institute is doing essential work.”

The gift will also support the institute’s presence at the law school, strengthening ties between legal education and public policy in a setting close to the core of city and state government.

Rick Mullaney, the institute’s founding director and a former Jacksonville general counsel, called the naming a meaningful tribute to a man who embodies civic excellence.

“There’s a hunger for role models,” Mullaney said. “Preston Haskell stands for excellence and community responsibility.”

The institute has built a reputation as Florida’s leading nonpartisan policy forum, hosting public lectures, televised debates, and leadership programs that connect students and citizens alike.

The downtown offices will allow the Haskell Public Policy Institute to expand its role as a hub for civic research, discussion, and practical engagement.

The institute already offers Florida’s first Master’s in Public Policy degree and several dual-degree programs combining public policy with law, business, and marine science.

With a presence near the courthouse and city hall, university leaders hope to foster collaborations that bring students face-to-face with policymakers and real-world challenges.

For Jacksonville University, the Haskell gift signifies not just a renaming but a reimagining of how the university participates in the city’s civic life.

For the community, it underscores Preston Haskell’s enduring influence as a businessman, philanthropist, and champion of institutions that strengthen civic leadership.

His $12 million gift ensures that Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute—now bearing his name—will continue shaping leaders for generations to come, right in the heart of the city he helped build.