Soft lighting reflected muted tones off the large, polished desk in 201 Old Main, where the president of the University conducts business. Wearing a conservative navy blue suit and a monogrammed white shirt, Michelle Hearn looked up with a smile.

Hearn (junior-marketing) was the first student to participate in Leaders and Friends for Students' "President for a Day" raffle. She and University President Bryce Jordan exchanged places yesterday; the outgoing Jordan attended Hearn's classes.

With the help of a green schedule card, Hearn negotiated her way through a day full of meetings and introductions that started at 8 a.m. and did not end until 5 p.m.

"The meetings were structured differently than I expected," Hearn said. "They were more relaxed and didn't follow the agenda exactly."

Hearn attended meetings with the president's advisory and policy council, the central management group, and the Budget Task Force. She received a chance to discuss various issues such as tuition.

At her first meeting, Hearn said she felt a little intimidated, but everyone was willing to answer her questions.

"Everyone called me 'President Hearn.' I had a good time," she said.

As a marketing major, Hearn said she found the budget committee meeting especially interesting because she could see how they dealt with different items.

"I found out how they make decisions, and they asked me some questions," Hearn said, adding that she thinks the tuition issue is "still in the preliminary stages."

Now that she has been exposed to the responsibilities of the office, Hearn said she will definitely follow the search for a new president with more interest.

Hearn said the chosen candidate must be "very flexible -- there are so many different responsibilities, it has to be an intelligent person who is capable of making decisions at a fast rate."

Also, now that she has been introduced to many of the people working in the office of the president, Hearn said she will follow media reports on administrative decisions more closely.

"It will be easier now that I am familiar with the names," she said.

The event should become annual, Hearn said.

"It's a good opportunity and the money goes to a good cause. It's a very unique experience," she said.

The $230 earned from the raffle will go to the Mount Nittany Conservancy Inc.