Calhoun is active in a range of national and international organizations in social science and public affairs:

• President, Board of Directors, Reset Dialogues. 
• Chair, Board of Directors, American Assembly, Columbia University
• Chair, Advisory Board, Weatherhead Institute for International Affairs, Harvard University
• Board of Directors, Mastercard Foundation
• Board of Directors, Center for Transcultural Studies
• President's Council, University of the People
• Committee on Science Planning (and other roles), International Science Council
• Senior Advisor, Berggruen Institute
• Jury for the A.Sk. Prize, Wissenschaft Zentrum zu Berlin