1931
Dr. Hitchins is born in Schenectady, New York to Henry Arnold Hitchins and Lillian Mary Turrian.
1952
Dr. Hitchins receives a Bachelor of Arts from Union College.
1953
Dr. Hitchins receives a Master of Arts from Harvard University.
1958
Dr. Hitchins becomes an instructor and assistant professor of history at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
1964
Dr. Hitchins receives a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard University.
1965
Dr. Hitchins becomes an assistant professor of history at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
1967
Dr. Hitchins becomes an associate professor at the University of Illinois, where he was eventually promoted to a full professor of history.
1969
Dr. Hitchins becomes a professor of East European history at the University of Illinois.
1969
Dr. Hitchins authors “Romanian National Movement in Transylvania 1780-1849.”
1970
Dr. Hitchins becomes a consultant for the Council for International Exchange Scholars.
1982
Dr. Hitchins becomes a consultant for the joint committee on Eastern Europe of the American Council of Learned Societies and Social Research Council.
1985
Dr. Hitchins authors “The Idea of Nation: Romanians of Transylvania 1691-1849.”
1991
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
1993
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Sibiu, Romania.
2000
Dr. Hitchins receives the National Order for Merit from the president of Romania.
2005
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures in Targu Mures, Romania.
2008
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the West University of Timisoara in Timisoara, Romania.
2008
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from University of Iasi (now Alexandru Ioan Cuza University) in Iasi, Romania.
2012
Dr. Hitchins is presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Bucharest in Bucharest, Romania.
2014
Dr. Hitchins authors “A Concise History of Romania.”