The way this article uses the word "humanist" had me quite confused for a few paragraphs. It doesn't match the use of the word that I'm familiar with.[0] I think it's using the word as in "academics involved in the humanities"; hopefully my note will help some other people who had a similar initial reaction.
Oh interesting. I was thrown also by the use. Just looked it up and found:
"3a. A classical scholar.
b. A student of the humanities.
4. Humanist A Renaissance scholar devoted to Humanism." [0]
So I guess it's a pretty major use of the word.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism