Learning how to tie a bow tie is just one of the adjustments the interim president at Ohio State must face after replacing E. Gordon Gee.Richard Sisson, interim president and provost, said there are a number of differences between the positions of provost and president at OSU.Sisson said the role of the senior provost varies from university to university, and that the role is more substantial at OSU. Student affairs is also a responsibility.”The provost has a direct responsibility for the academic core of the university and coordination of other vice presidential areas,” he said.His job now involves presenting the university and spending many hours traveling throughout the state talking about OSU, he said.”This is probably the most demanding presidency of any university in the country,” he said.Sisson said working closely with Gee while he was president has helped prepare him for the position and the issues affecting OSU.”I know a wide range of things going on at Ohio State,” he said.Sisson has been actively involved in helping find a solution to the state funding problem plaguing Ohio’s public schools.The Ohio Senate is debating House Bill 650, which will provide additional funds by requiring a one-half percent budget cut from all of Ohio’s public universities.Other than the one-half percent budget cut, Sisson believes higher education will not suffer.Despite this being his first presidential position, Sisson is no stranger to the arena of university presidents.Sisson’s name surfaced last October for the vacant presidency at the University of Texas, the nation’s largest university. He withdrew his name from consideration, citing many reasons.”I decided I wanted to stay here and give my undivided attention to the interim presidency at Ohio State,” he said. “We have strong ties here in Ohio, and I found out how strong they are.”He said he was never a candidate to replace Gee and is not a candidate for any university presidency.Sisson, an OSU alumnus, came to OSU in 1993 after serving as senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at UCLA.