UH Foundation has received a $630,000 estate gift – the largest in the history of the UH Mānoa Writing Center – to establish the Center’s first permanent endowment, ensuring long-term support for student writing services.
The gift was directed by historian Lisa Olsen Tait in honor of her late aunt, LaRene Despain, an English professor who co-founded the Writing Center in the 1970s.
“This historic gift ensures the Writing Center will continue to be a vital resource, helping students from all backgrounds find their voices and strengthen their writing,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the College of Arts, Languages & Letters.
The endowment provides stable, ongoing funding to expand tutoring, outreach and support services, particularly for first-generation and international students. Writing centers are often among the most heavily used academic resources on campus, offering one-on-one guidance that helps students succeed across disciplines.
A legacy of teaching and mentorship
Despain joined UH Mānoa in 1972 while completing her PhD at the University of Connecticut and became an early leader in the emerging field of composition studies. She advocated for a collaborative, student-centered approach to writing, emphasizing drafting, peer feedback and mentorship over rigid instruction.
“The ’70s and ’80s were a formative time in English studies, and LaRene was on the cutting edge of that movement,” Tait said. “Her work shaped how writing was taught, including her textbook Writing: A Workshop Approach, which I used in my own teaching.”
Beyond the classroom, Despain was known for her commitment to students and colleagues, particularly through her work at the Writing Center.
“The Writing Center became a really important place for LaRene,” Tait said. “She valued the opportunity to work one-on-one with students and to mentor both writers and tutors.”
Expanding impact for future students
Leaders say the new endowment will allow the Writing Center to grow its reach and deepen its impact across campus.
“This gift gives us the ability to build partnerships, expand outreach and create resources we’ve long envisioned,” said assistant professor of English Isaac Wang, who also serves as the director of the Writing Center. “It allows us to turn ideas into reality.”
Tait said supporting the center reflects both her aunt’s legacy and an ongoing need within higher education.
“Writing centers are perennially underfunded, and perennially in need of more support,” she said. “I think LaRene would be very glad to know we’re helping sustain something that meant so much to her.”
The endowment ensures that future generations of UH Mānoa students will continue to have access to personalized writing support, strengthening academic success and building confidence and communication skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
FOR UH • FOR HAWAIʻI, The Campaign for the University of Hawaiʻi, is focused on raising $1 billion to support UH priorities on all 10 campuses across the state, including student success; research that matters; kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi; sustainability, resilience and conservation; innovation and entrepreneurship; building Hawaiʻi’s workforce; and engaging our community. Learn more at uhfoundation.org/4UH4HI
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The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. uhfoundation.org
