Pre-Presidency
Before becoming president of what was then known as Hofstra College, Calkins had played a large role serving as the chair of the building committee. which was the lead in executing the building of the campus in general. The school had initially started by teaching out of Hempstead High School, but seeing a new space needed, Calkins was the chair of the building committee in overseeing part of the construction of Brower Hall, a new building for the campus after Hofstra Hall was accommodated to be fit for students. This also included the acquisition off land of California Avenue "for recreational and athletic purposes", for what spott is currently housed by the James Shuart Stadium. In 1937, Calkins was named as the Hofstra chair of the board of trustees.Presidency
On July 1, 1939, Hofstra had officially split from New York University becoming Hofstra College. In announcing the proposed separation, Calkins stated that the financial means were entirely independent from NYU and the only relationship they truly had was of an academic manner.References
New York University people Presidents of Hofstra University 1877 births 1942 deaths People from Brownville, New York New York University alumni {{US-academic-administrator-1870s-stub