Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently appointed Dr. Shawn Fisher of
Searcy, Dr. Brady Banta of Jonesboro and Heather Nelson of North Little Rock to
the seven-member Arkansas History Commission. All seats on the commission are
now filled.
“We are pleased to have a full commission and look forward
to working with new and longstanding commissioners to make sure the Arkansas
State Archives remains the go-to resource for Arkansas history,” said Dr. David
Ware, state historian and director of the Arkansas State Archives.
The Arkansas History Commission, which is an advisory board
to the State Archives, is dedicated to helping preserve and promote Arkansas
history. The new commissioners come from diverse backgrounds.
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| Dr. Brady Banta |
Dr.
Banta is an archivist at the Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University
and serves as associate director of the Heritage Studies PhD. Program. He started at the university in 1997. He previously
served as the archivist and special collections librarian at Louisiana State
University of Medicine at Shreveport. He served as president of the Louisiana
Archives and Manuscripts Association from 1996 to 1997. He replaced
Commissioner Bob McCarley, whose commission had expired in 2019. McCarley had
continued to serve on the commission until a replacement was found. Banta’s
commission will expire Jan. 14, 2026.
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| Dr. Shawn Fisher |
Dr. Fisher is an associate professor of history at Harding
University. He earned the James L. Foster and Billy W. Beason Award for 2013
for the best dissertation in Arkansas history from the Arkansas Historical
Association. Fisher, whose research includes American history, military history
and Southern history, earned his bachelor’s degree at Harding University and
his doctorate at the University of Memphis. His work has garnered several
awards, including The Major L. Wilson Graduate Paper Prize from the University
of Memphis in 2008.
“I’m humbled to be part of the commission, and I’m excited
to have the opportunity to help with the important mission to protect and
manage Arkansas history and heritage,” Dr. Fisher said.
Dr. Fisher previously served as chair of the Arkansas World
War I Centennial Committee until the committee disbanded in 2018. He currently
reviews monument requests for Arkansas Heritage. He replaced Commissioner Mary
Dillard, whose commission expired this past January. His commission will expire
Jan. 14, 2027.
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| Heather Nelson |
Nelson is co-founder and president of Seal Solar, an energy
solutions firm. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the
University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business and her MBA from the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Nelson replaced Commissioner Jimmy Bryant, who left the commission
to become director of Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department
of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Nelson’s commission will expire Jan. 14, 2024.
