 The Board of Trustees declined the offer, not wishing to cede control of the college's affairs to any single religious institution, especially since many of the college's leaders were from disparate Presbyteries, and because they had seen the changes that took place at Washington College after it accepted a similar offer from the Synod of Wheeling.On January 7, 1847, Joseph Alden was elected President of Jefferson College.A well liked professor, he was likely a better teacher than administrator, but many of the problems he faced were national or began well before he took office.