The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents adopted a resolution honoring President David Lassner for more than four decades of exemplary service to the UH system and the State of Hawaiʻi.
“I’m so honored and grateful,” said Lassner after the regents adopted the resolution. “It’s been an amazing 47 years, including these last 11 as president. I feel great about what I’ve done and I feel great about what I’m gonna do next.”
Lassner, who began his journey with the university in 1977, will retire at the end of 2024, leaving a legacy of academic excellence, innovative leadership and unwavering dedication.
Lassner joined UH Mānoa as part of a PLATO project. Over the years, he rose from an entry-level computer specialist to serve as UH’s first Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, eventually becoming the university’s 15th president in 2014.
As president, Lassner steered the institution through significant milestones, including increased graduation rates, record-breaking enrollment, and securing historic extramural funding. His leadership during critical moments, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maunakea protests, demonstrated his commitment to the university’s mission.
“President Lassner’s tireless work has strengthened the University of Hawaiʻi academically, culturally, and financially,” said the Board of Regents in its resolution. “We are deeply grateful for his dedication and vision.”
Lassner’s last day at UH is December 30 after announcing retirement in September of 2023. He will be succeeded by Wendy Hensel who was unanimously selected as the next UH president by the regents on October 17 after a nationwide search.
RESOLUTION Honoring University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner
WHEREAS, although David Lassner was born in Stamford, Connecticut, his early life adventures included stops in Rochester, New York, and Brockton, Massachusetts, prior to his family settling in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, where he resided until the end of his high school career; and
WHEREAS, forever endowed with a passion for learning by his family, David Lassner attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign after completing his high school studies where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and earned a Master of Computer Science degree, during which time he was trained on the PLATO computer system. 1977, he came to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, recruited to work on a PLATO project at the institution on a one-year contract, where he would continue his post-graduate studies eventually earning a Doctorate of Communication and Information Sciences degree; and
WHEREAS, after three years of renewed contracts, David Lassner was given an entry-level staff position as a computer specialist before being appointed as the Director of Information Technology in 1989. He would go on to hold a series of progressively more responsible technical, management, and executive positions within the university ultimately leading to his appointment as the university’s first Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer charged with the responsibility of designing, implementing, and directing a new integrated organization to support academic computing, administrative computing, distributed learning technologies, and voice, data, and video telecommunications; and
WHEREAS, following the resignation of President M. R. C. Greenwood in 2013, David Lassner was approached by the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaiʻi to serve as Interim President of the University of Hawaiʻi. He would be formally elected to serve as the 15th President of the University of Hawaiʻi in 2014 and, in 2023, announced his intent to retire at the end of 2024; and
WHEREAS, as President of the University of Hawaiʻi, David Lassner, has worked diligently with his team of officers, as well as faculty, staff, and students of the University of Hawaiʻi to create an academically, financially, culturally, and organizationally strong institution. Although he has dealt with many challenges during his presidency, among them, issues related to Maunakea, the COVID-19 pandemic, intense public scrutiny by elected officials, and the sudden closure of Aloha Stadium, he has also been an instrumental part of the university’s numerous academic and financial successes such as increased graduation rates, record enrollment numbers, major facility improvements, including successful Public Private Partnerships, and the receipt of historic amounts of extramural and philanthropic funding; and
WHEREAS, throughout his over four decades of illustrious service to the university David Lassner has held active leadership roles in a multitude of local, national, and international organizations and has been presented with a number of awards and accolades too numerous to mention; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaiʻi extends its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to President Lassner for his dedicated service, guidance, and invaluable contributions to the University of Hawaiʻi and the State of Hawaiʻi; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents wishes David a warm mahalo, extends to him its aloha and best wishes for continued success and happiness upon his retirement, and expresses its hope that he continue to enjoy life outside of the University of Hawaiʻi.
