SHAPING LEADERS, BUILDING LEGACY
“ All of us are shaped by the things we choose to do and the people we do them with, and the tendency is to put too much emphasis on the former and not enough on the latter because the people shape you,” said Halverson.“ Preston certainly has shaped me.”
Mullaney calls Haskell the embodiment of excellence, and this ability to shape leaders now extends to future generations through the Haskell Public Policy Institute.“ If there has ever been a time in our history where we understand the importance of civil discourse, where we understand the importance of leaning into policy, I think it’ s now,” said Mayor Deegan.
The institute’ s downtown presence at Jacksonville University’ s College of Law creates new opportunities for students to engage directly with government offices, community leaders and the legislative process. It’ s a strategic positioning that Haskell, a visionary, surely appreciates.
“ There’ s a hunger for role models. There’ s a hunger for knowing what excellence looks like,” said Mullaney.“ Preston Haskell stands for excellence.”
A PARTNERSHIP IN PURPOSE
As Jacksonville University celebrates this transformational moment, the naming carries profound significance for the institution’ s future.“ He is the embodiment of what this Public Policy Institute is all about,” said Mullaney.
It’ s not easy to summarize the indelible mark Preston Haskell has left on Northeast
Florida.“ I think his greatest contribution though is in education. He’ s a natural educator,” said Halverson.“ That’ s how he built the business, that’ s how he built the community. It is perfectly poetic that his name and the company’ s name and Jacksonville University are linked forever.”
THE FUTURE FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND LAW
As the mid-October naming celebration drew to a close, Preston Haskell stood once more before the assembled crowd in the downtown College of Law. The same building that houses future lawyers and policymakers, the same downtown corridors where civic decisions shape Jacksonville’ s tomorrow. But this time, instead of watching his inspiring story unfold on screen, he was looking out at the faces of those who will carry it forward, students who are bright and intellectually curious, faculty who inform and enrich others at the intersection of law and policy, community leaders who understand that true legacy isn’ t built in concrete and steel alone.
Haskell’ s words were fittingly forward-looking:“ I’ m thankful to everyone who has built this program, and I’ m confident these students will make meaningful contributions to Jacksonville and beyond.” No mention of his own contributions, no catalog of past achievements, just gratitude and confidence in what comes next.
The Haskell Public Policy Institute isn’ t the culmination of Preston’ s vision. It’ s another foundation upon which Jacksonville will continue to rise, shaped by those who, like Preston Haskell, dare to see the world through a unique lens and have the rare courage to change it.
WAV E MAGAZINE | Spring 2026 19