To commemorate the Association for Humanist Sociology’s (AHS) 50th anniversary, in this article I reflect on the influence of the organization’s objectives on academic sociology, and my own practice of humanism in my everyday life. First, I briefly summarize the presence of humanist sociology in the origin story of 20th century U.S. sociology. Next, I discuss my years of affiliation and service to AHS and reflect on the values added from this mutual relationship. Then, I reflect on humanism in our everyday lives as sociologists – for example, in what we teach and research as employees of our institutions. Finally, I conclude with a discussion on the significance of humanist sociology amidst the whither of academia, and my vision for the future of the organization that has a significant role to play in the coming years.
Bhoomi K. Thakore (2026) studied this question.