Hinman was an instructor at the Newberry Seminary in
Newbury, Vermont in 1839. He taught Greek and mathematics. He was principal of the seminary from 1844 to 1846. He oversaw the admission of female students to the renamed Albion Female Collegiate Institute and Wesleyan Seminary. He was also editor of the
Newbury Biblical Magazine. Hinman joined the board of trustees of the future
Northwestern University in 1951. He was unanimously elected the first president of Northwestern University by the
board of trustees on August 23, 1853. Hinman began working on plans for the university, including land acquisition for the campus, establishing an endowment, and starting its related preparatory school. He was very active in fundraising for the construction of the campus, shaping the college's curriculum, and hiring its faculty. However, he died before instruction at the new university began. == Honors ==