 In 1970, the Board of Trustees voted to admit women for the first time in the college's history.Under Brian C. Mitchell, who served as president from 1998 to 2004, the college again a growth in construction and an effort to improve relations with the neighboring communities.In 2004, Tori Haring-Smith became the first woman to serve as president of Washington & Jefferson, understanding an effort to improve the science curriculum and to construct the Swanson Science Center.