mtvU brought its popular "Stand In" series today to the University of Wisconsin-Madison by hosting Microsoft Corp. chairman and chief software architect, Bill Gates. Gates paid a surprise visit to the University’s "Introduction to Programming" class to serve as substitute professor for the day. There he led the unsuspecting class in a powerful discussion about leading-edge technologies and their potential to change the way people live and work. He also discussed the vitality of the computer science industry and the many exciting, rewarding and important careers within it.

• Watch the Bill Gates Stand In

Past Stand In Features Read about past Stand Ins by selecting an artist name from the drop-down.

Select An Artist -------- Marian Wright Edelman Dr. Muhammad Yunus President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Don Cheadle Annie Lennox President Paul Kagame Sam Brownback Malcolm Gladwell & Kenna Mike Judge Jhumpa Lahiri Larry David George Clinton Natalie Portman Madonna Cameron Diaz Bill Gates bill_gates == bill_gates, so currentIndex is:15 Melissa Etheridge Shimon Peres John McCain Sting Ashley Judd Elie Wiesel Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Tom Wolfe Russell Simmons Nas & Olu Dara Marilyn Manson Snoop Dogg Jesse Jackson Frank McCourt