If I learned one thing from the nearly 12-hour day I spent following UW President Mark Emmert it is this: I couldn't do his job.

While articles from the Seattle Post Intelligencer to The New York Times to The Chronicle of Higher Education offer sound-bites from the presidents of public universities regarding the future of higher education, few individuals know what exactly they do to ensure that future remains bright.

And with a recent rash of no-confidence votes threatening the job security of several university presidents throughout the nation — specifically concerning the growing discrepancy between faculty and administrative salaries — the definition of just what exactly a university president does has become more crucial than ever.

Mark Emmert took office as president of the University of Washington on June 14, 2004. While skeptics scoffed at his lavish $590,000 salary, he had inherited an enormous task: shining up the UW's tainted image, grappling with massive funding concerns and positioning the UW as a true representation of the state of Washington.

On Feb. 20, I spent the day with Emmert in Olympia for Washington's Higher Education Day. Along with the presidents of the five other public universities in the state, he met at the state capitol in order to rally crucial support for higher education.

Gaining this support and ensuring the continued status of the UW, as I learned, is much easier said than done.

10:30 am: Sunshine turned to rain, with much at stake

Alumni briefing, Indian Summer Golf and Country Club, Olympia

If Emmert is stressed out, which would be appropriate for the situation, he doesn't show it.

Shortly before President's Day weekend, a budget was proposed by several legislators as a counter to Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget for higher education.

Gregoire's budget, which has been highly lauded by the University, is based on the 18-month statewide study Washington Learns that sought to address the financial needs of education in Washington state. It also seeks to close the $4,000-per-student funding gap the UW suffers from, compared to peer institutions.

The counter budget, which capped annual tuition increases at 3 percent among other items, decreased the UW's funding by almost $50 million.

"This legislative session is shaping up to be very important for the UW," Emmert told a group of alumni in a briefing. "For the first time we've been able to pull together coalitions in our industry that have never come together before."

Higher Education Day is similar to Student Lobby Day in that state university administrators and alumni converge on the capitol in order to target legislators and increase awareness and support for the financial concerns of Washington higher education institutions.

"We're trying to create a buzz," said Randy Hodgins, director of the Office of State Relations for the UW. "We're not asking the state to do everything. We're asking them to do their part."

During the briefing, Hodgins and Emmert held a "crash course" in lobbying for the alumni. Hodgins, an Olympia veteran, presented a set of scenarios for the group assembled in terms of how to deal with potential push-back from lawmakers.

"We're at a delicate stage," Hodgins said, "So it's important to stay on message."

"On message" referred a collection of information and talking points the UW had prepared for Higher Education Day. Titled "Meeting the Global Challenge," the materials emphasized the importance of funding to maintain the UW's competitiveness.

"Here's a UW stereotype: We're a school of rich kids that denies low-income kids," Hodgins presented. "So how would you respond?"

Emmert offered the counter-message: "The governor's budget adds 1,600 new students to the UW. And what would an additional $4,000 mean per student?"

The question of the day was posed.

12:00 pm: Overheard over lunch and "how my days really are"

Lunch, Indian Hills Golf and Country Club, Olympia

Before the six university presidents and their alumni entourages descended on the capitol, they gathered for lunch and honored former governor Booth Gardner with the Robert G. Waldo award for public service.

Though Gov. Gregoire was in attendance, as it turned out, everyone wanted to talk to Emmert.

Alumni. Presidents. Administrators. Even luncheon host and local TV anchor Joyce Taylor, and UW alum and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist David Horsey.

This, I was to find out, was telling. Wherever Emmert went, someone wanted to talk to him, and often a crowd assembled.

"[Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs] Phyllis Wise emailed me at 5:30 this morning," Emmert said with a laugh and sigh, glancing down at his Blackberry — something he did methodically throughout the day.

It's always something.

"I have to catch a red-eye flight at midnight to Washington, D.C., to make an 8 a.m. meeting," Emmert said with shocking casualness. "But I'll take a 1 p.m. flight and be back in Seattle for dinner."

Indeed, though the day was already half over, for Emmert it was just beginning.

I did the math and reached for a cup of coffee: He would have to be 'on' for the next 24 hours.

1:30 pm: Testifying for global heath

Senate Committee, Hearing Room 4, Cherberg Building, state capitol

As soon as lunch ended, Emmert was immediately transported to the capitol to testify and introduce a presentation before a Senate Committee as to the importance of funding Washington's investment in global health.

Emmert's testimony comes five months after the UW launched its Department of Global Health, funded by the Gates Foundation. He hopes that, in addition to donations from the Gates family, the Legislature will make an effort build Washington state's status as leader in the emerging field of global health.

"We believe [this] is an extraordinary opportunity not just for the University of Washington, but for the entire state of Washington. The whole area of global health is exploding in terms of interests and concerns and importance across this nation and around the world," Emmert said.

He noted that by historical accident and cultural development, Washington already holds a remarkable collection of organizations and individuals who are creating treatments and developments in the understanding of global health. Supporting the endeavors of these organizations and individuals, he stressed, will mean growth for the entire region.

"It allows us to continue to bring a critical mass of scientists and students to work in this area. It also holds the promise of turning the state of Washington into a place where people come from all over the world to study, discuss, consider and set policy on global health issues," he said.

With that, Emmert thanked his legislative audience proceeded across the street to an even larger one.

2:15 pm: Positioning and press conference with six university presidents

Press conference, legislative building

Arranged in a panel before the media, Emmert sat with the five other university presidents, cameras and recorders rolling.

Though there had been rumors among the media that Emmert planned to make an important announcement at the press conference, he dismissed the hype but embraced the fanfare of the event. In regards to one reporter's query about the announcement, he responded, "Well, that's news to me."

The press conference was staged in order to demonstrate the unified alignment of the six Washington universities behind Gregoire's budget.

One by one, each university president presented his or her thoughts and support of the budget as well as what it would mean for his or her respective institution.

As Emmert's turn came, it was clear that he was the most poised to respond.

"The fact that for the first time, perhaps, in Washington history, tuition and state support and funding levels are all tied together in a comprehensive package is a very meaningful step. The fact that this [budget] also lays out a long-term vision about where we should go and the kind of investment the state should make is as just important as the dollars contained in the budget," he said, facing the crowd head-on with a blend of penetrating charisma and composure.

In a strategic moment, Emmert also expressed his gratitude for the support the state intends to give the UW branch campuses in Bothell and Tacoma, and WSU's branch campus in Vancouver — a move that will hopefully alleviate the UW's Seattle campus' overpopulation.

"We think the operating budget will be a very good first step, but there's probably about two more steps of this magnitude that are needed over the next couple of years, and then we can go from there," Emmert said.

3:15 pm: "Hurry up and wait": Lobbying on steroids

Private meetings with Senators, various buildings throughout the capitol

After the press conference, the most intense part of Emmert's day began. For more than two hours, Emmert, with Hodgins as his guide, ran from building to building, meeting with state legislators and bolstering support.

The pace between offices — not helped by typical Washington weather, which capitulated between showers and sun breaks — was brutal. Repeatedly, after arriving on time for a meeting, we were told to wait.

The phrase, "The senator is running a little behind — why don't you take a seat," became like a chorus.

"This is my day," said Emmert, while tying his shoes. "A lot of 'hurry up and wait.'"

While many of his meetings with legislators were private, I was able to sit in on one occasion for a meeting with Sen. Rosa Franklin of the 29th District, Tacoma.

The meeting took the form of a check-in of sorts between the UW's endeavor and the needs of the legislator's district.

"I support the governor's budget particularly because of UW Tacoma. We're fighting for that and support of all levels of education," said Sen. Franklin, who also noted the plan to add 500 students to the Tacoma campus was crucial to its success.

Emmert agreed and expressed his continued commitment to the success of UW Tacoma.

The meeting concluded with the recognition of a shared cause: the vital importance of higher education to the future of Washington state.

Then it was off to another meeting in another building on the Capitol campus with an increasingly powerful "boy's club" entourage that soon included UW regents Fred Kiga and Craig Cole.

"He's a rock star," said Hodgins of Emmert as we waited outside a private meeting. "I don't have to do anything. I don't have to worry. He could run for public office."

With Emmert's "rock star" status, however, comes its own share of detractors.

Razzed in a hallway by a Republican legislator for the supposedly large number of students with 125 percent of the required credits, who are draining money out of the system, Emmert responded with good yet practiced humor.

After spending the majority of the day as a fly on the wall, I couldn't help but get in on the action.

"Well, if you'd fund offering more classes and more faculty, maybe students might actually be able to graduate on time," I said.

"I suppose you're one of the students on the 6-year plan," the legislator said.

"Nope. I'm graduating ahead of schedule."

"The state should give you a rebate."

Finally, Emmert put an end to things: "We'll call it the 'Maureen Act,' and I expect the proposal by next week."

The day was now complete.

5:30 pm: Goodnight — for now

Reception, the Governor's Mansion

My day with Emmert ended with a reception for Higher Education Day at the Governor's Mansion. It wasn't long after our entrance before he floated away into another crowd of desiring individuals, only to discreetely leave to prepare for his midnight flight to Washington, D.C.

Reflecting back, in many ways my coming-of-age at the UW has mirrored Emmert's.

During my freshman year (as a young Daily reporter) in early 2004, right before Emmert was appointed, I wrote an article describing what students wanted from a UW president.

"It is clear that the incoming president will have serious funding and enrollment challenges to face," then-ASUW president Brittany Goodnight told me. "To address these issues it is critical for the University to continue lobbying for increased per-student funding in Olympia."

What Goodnight said next, however, hit the nail on the head:

"I believe the incoming UW president needs to make a strong commitment to the students, faculty and staff at this university," she said. "I would like to see an individual who has strong communication skills, and that wants to address the many issues, needs and concerns that face students every day."

Public universities, ever-beholden to the needs and challenges of their region, will always have their share of problems and struggles.

My day with Mark Emmert, however, gave me hope that as Washington state grows and changes, so too will the UW — meeting change head on, with Emmert at the helm.

Reach reporter Maureen Trantham at features@thedaily.washington.edu