while president of jefferson college, wylie led a controversial effort to merge with nearby washington college. when that effort failed, in 1816 wylie moved on to become president of washington college and pastor of the presbyterian church. in 1825 wylie was given an honorary doctorate of divinity from union college, in schenectady, new york. wylie resigned his presidency in 1828, over a theological dispute among local presbyterian groups in washington, pennsylvania.