Lassner Makes $76K Gift to Support UH Tech Services

The University of Hawai’i System Information Technology Services got a recent boost with a $76,000 gift.

University of Hawai’i Foundation officials say UH President Dr. David Lassner made the donation in support of the UH System Information Technology Services.

”When I arrived in Hawaiʻi with a one-year half-time contract, I never imagined that Iʻd be here 38 years later.” Lassner said.  “But UH has given me an incredible opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, so it’s a real treat to now be in a position to give back to help strengthen this institution that is so important to the future of everyone in Hawaiʻi.”

The UH Information Technology Center houses information and communications technology systems and services that support modern teaching, administration, and research for all ten of the UH system campuses.

“We are most grateful to David for leading by example with this generous gift to help the Information Technology Center fulfill its mission and support necessary maintenance, refurbishment, and equipment,” said UH Board of Regents chair Randy Moore.  “The 21st century facility supports the delivery of the 21st century education so critical to our students’ and faculty’s success, and provides critical safeguards our state needs during disaster.”

Opened in February 2014, the UH Information Technology Center is home to more than 8,000 square feet of disaster-hardened space of data center for enterprise servers, storage, and communications. The building can withstand a category three hurricane, according to UH officials.

The Technology Center also includes space for faculty to develop digital content, a meeting and training room with teleconferencing capabilities, and an emergency situation room to support UH disaster response

LEED Gold certification is currently being sought by the University System as the building hosts energy efficient chilled beams for cooking in office areas and other features deemed “green.”

In July 2014, Lassner was appointed as UH president. Prior to the position, he served as interim president beginning in September 2013. Lassner joined the system in 1977 and held roles as vice president for information technology and chief information officer.

Lassner earned a AN in economics summa cum laude and MS in computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before graduating with a Ph.D in communication and information sciences from the University of Hawai’i.

“David has been the epitome of loyalty to his alma mater,” said Donna Vuchinich, UH Foundation President and CEO. “His history of supporting UH goes back decades. He is a lifetime member of the UH Alumni Association and has been a regular donor to UH since 1981. With this generous new gift, David is building on his legacy by providing essential funding to help the Information Technology Center sustain its future.”