Lawrence H. Summers met with high-level University officials for the first time in his capacity as Harvard president-elect yesterday, speaking with University deans and vice presidents on topics ranging from faculty recruitment to the state of science at Harvard during a lunch meeting in Loeb House.

Administrators listened to a brief introduction by Robert G. Stone Jr. '45, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation and chair of the presidential search committee, and ate a buffet-style luncheon around a horseshoe-shaped table, after which Summers made a few remarks and then took questions.

The atmosphere of the meeting was described as informal.

"It was very cordial and welcoming. Very celebratory," said Anne Taylor, vice president and general counsel to the University.

Summers was equally upbeat about the meeting.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "We had a good and warm discussion. I look forward to working with the deans," he said as he departed, luggage in hand, for Logan Airport and a flight back to his home in Bethesda, Md.

"He seemed happy and interested in what [the administrators] are up to," said Hanna H. Gray, a member of the Corporation and the search committee.

During the meeting, Summers heard administrators' concerns and asked questions of his own.