Arkansas Sen. Jonathan Dismang to speak at fall commencement

December 11, 2015 | Graduation |

Jonathan Dismang, Arkansas state senator, will deliver the commencement address for Harding University’s fall commencement Dec. 19 in Benson Auditorium at 10 a.m. honoring more than 350 graduates.

Graduates include students from the College of Allied Health, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Bible and Ministry, Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration, Cannon-Clary College of Education, Carr College of Nursing, College of Sciences and the Honors College.

Dismang represents Senate District 28 comprised of Prairie County and parts of Arkansas, Lonoke, Monroe, White and Woodruff counties. An honor graduate of the University with degrees in accounting and economics, he is a native of Maynard, Arkansas. He was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2008 to serve House District 49, and he was chairman of the Arkansas Legislative Council PEER Committee and vice chairman of Income Taxes-Personal and Corporate Subcommittee.

Now serving his second term in the Arkansas Senate, Dismang is the President Pro Tempore for the 90th General Assembly in addition to vice chairman of the Senate Efficiency Committee and a member of 19 legislative committees and subcommittees.

Dismang provides financial oversight services with an emphasis in real estate at Dismang Consulting Services, where he is owner and president. Civically, he is active in many local and state organizations, including White County 4-H Foundation, the Rose Bud East Advisory Council, Beebe Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Searcy Young Professionals Network, and the Harding University President’s Council.

In January 2014, Governing magazine recognized him as one of 12 “Heavy Hitters” in legislatures across the nation, and in June 2015, he was named one of Arkansas Business’ “40 Under 40.” The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette named him one of the Top Six Freshman to Watch during the 87th General Assembly, and the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette named him as one of 20 to Watch.