About Us
The Institute for Humanist Studies includes an outstanding staff and board that oversee the IHS' operations.
Dr. Anthony Pinn serves as IHS’ Research Director. Dr, Pinn is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University. He earned his Ph.D. in the Study of Religion at Harvard University in 1994. His work has focused on liberation theology, Black religion, and Black humanism. His PhD dissertation was entitled "I Wonder as I Wonder: An Examination of the Problem of Evil in African-American Religious Thought."
Larry Jones is the founder and advisory board member of the Institute for Humanist Studies.
Board of Directors (as of October 26, 2012):
- Warren Wolf - President
- Carol Wintermute - Vice-president
- Jim Craig - Treasurer
- Roy Speckhardt - Secretary
- Louis Altman - Boardmember-at-large
- Amanda Knief - Boardmember-at-large
- Jennifer Kalmanson - Boardmember-at-large
- John Hooper - Boardmember-at-large
- Charles Debrovner - Boardmember-at-large
The Institute also hosts a stellar group of Fellows. The Fellows comprise the core of the Institute's research division and whose expertise and insights will help shape both the information and modes of practice we are able to provide the larger humanist movement. The Institute currently hosts seven Fellows, with the goal of expanding this number. They include:
- Dr. Arthur Caplan, the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics and Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, and director of the Center for Bioethics.
- Professor Sebastian Velez, an Evolutionary Biologist and a PhD candidate in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
- Dr. Peter Derkx, Professor of Humanism and Worldviews at the University of Humanistics (Utrecht, Netherlands). His main fields of interest are the theory of humanism as a worldview, and science, technology and meanings of life.
- Dr. Sikivu Hutchison, editor of blackfemlens.org. She is a leading figure in African-American humanism and a popular blogger and speaker, and a commentator for KPFK 90.7 FM.
- Dr. Howard Radest, chair of the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Hilton Head Regional Medical Center, and consultant to the Ethics Committee of the South Carolina Medical Association.
- Dr. Sharon Welch is an internationally known scholar with award winning work related to issue of social ethics and culture. She is currently Provost and Professor of Religion and Society at Meadville Lombard Theological School.
- Dr. Monica Miller, post-doctoral Fellow in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and adjunct faculty at Columbia University. Dr. Miller’s work involves attention to cultural studies and theories of social interaction.
The Institute may be contacted via the information below:
