 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.The college's enrollment and endowment levels were high during the early part of his tenure, but the growing conflict between the North and the South prevent many Southern students from continuing their studies, causing the number of graduating students to fall from 75 to 45 by the end of his term.