Diddy R. M. Hitchins, PhD MBE

Biography

Honors and Awards:
Diddy Hitchins’ work, serving for 20 years as British Honorary Consul for Alaska, was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II who awarded her an MBE in the 2005 New Year’s Honours. The investiture took place on June 22, 2005 at Buckingham Palace in London

2013 Inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame 

Previous experience:

Diddy Hitchins joined the faculty in 1976 after a year as Research Associate with UAA’s Anchorage Urban Observatory. Prior to that she taught for four years in the Politics Department at the University of Ghana, Legon, West Africa, and before that served as computer consultant for the Department of Government at the University of Essex, UK, while carrying out her graduate studies.

Scholarship:
Diddy Hitchins spent the 2004 – 2005 academic year on sabbatical studying political change in four parliamentary political systems: Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Prior to the sabbatical her research had focused on the Canadian political system and Canada’s role in international relations.

Teaching Responsibilites

Diddy Hitchins teaching fields are comparative politics and international relations. She has developed particular expertise on the political systems of the North Pacific Region – Canada, Russia, Japan, the Koreas and China (including Taiwan). In international relations she focuses on international organizations and international law.

Area Specialties:
Parliamentary political systems, North Pacific, Russian Far East, Circumpolar North, International Relations, US Foreign Policy

Professional and Departmental Service

Diddy Hitchins was the founding director of UAA’s Canadian Studies and International North Pacific Studies Programs. She served for many years as the Faculty Director for the Model UN of Alaska. She has put in 12 years service as Chair of Political Science at UAA, and has served as chair of many international development committees and as President of the Faculty Senate.

Since 1985 Diddy Hitchins has served as the British Honorary Consul for Alaska

Diddy Hitchins served as Vice-president of the Association for Canadian Studies in the US (ACSUS) 2003 – 2005 and will serve as President from 2005 – 2007. She is currently the President of the Western Canadian Studies Group and has served in that capacity for three two-year terms.