please help

this is my second photo assignment from the school newsletter. we have a new office of study abroad, and this is the new head, so it was my job to take her picture

two questions:
1) how do you take pictures of people? especially candid shots, where you can't just move furniture or people out of the way when you need to
2) how do you make people feel comfortable getting her picture taken? this lady was absolutely adamant: no portraits, no close-ups.. what is the best way to coax someone into feeling alright behind the camera?