When Christie Dashiell (MUSB ’10) first learned that her father would be joining the Department of Music at Howard University, her reaction wasn’t immediate enthusiasm.
Her first thought was: “Wait. I’m the original Professor Dashiell at Howard University.”
She had been teaching in the department for several years, carving out her own identity as a performer, composer, and educator. This year, Christie garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her sophomore release, “Journey in Black.” Within the department, she had established her own rhythm.
Now her father, Carroll “CVD” Dashiell Jr. (MUSB ’88, MUSB ’95), a high-profile musician in his own right, would be walking the same halls as her department chair.
“It was something I had worked hard to earn on my own,” Christie said. “I didn’t get the position because of my family. So, at first, I was resistant. I wasn’t sure what it would mean to share space professionally with my dad.”
For his part, Carroll — a celebrated jazz bassist, conductor, composer, arranger, and lifelong educator — responded like a seasoned father.
“My first thought was, tell my wife,” he joked. “Then I called Christie, because I figured she might quit once she found out I’d be her immediate supervisor. She shot right back: ‘I’m going to quit too! I can’t have my dad be my boss.’”
Both Christie and Carroll are proud Bison, and their roots in the music department run deep. Christie earned her Bachelor of Music in jazz studies in 2010, and Carroll is a proud alumnus whose career spans decades as a performer, educator, and music director. Their family boasts three generations of Howard graduates, with Christie’s grandfather also having attended the university.
Growing up, Christie said she absorbed many musical lessons at home. They combined the family’s trademark humor with a firm sense of purpose. A rehearsal schedule still hangs on the wall of the Dashiell family’s home studio in North Carolina, listing time slots for each child: Christian, Christie, Carroll Dashiell III, and Cameron. The youngest had the earliest sessions, rotating in and out to practice, write, and record.
“My dad was my first music teacher,” she said. “Not through formal lessons, but in the way he carried himself as an artist. He always emphasized taking your craft seriously. And I carry that with me today.”
Now five years into her role as an adjunct professor, Christie centers her pedagogy on reclaiming jazz as a Black American art form, rooted in ancestral legacy, resistance, and joy.
“I want my students to walk into a room with authority,” she said. “This music is ours. I want them to feel ownership. It’s not to exclude others, but to feel the deep connection to their culture and history. That’s what I try to bring into the classroom.”
Christie often laughs at memories of growing up in a musical family, especially when it comes to her father, Carroll, since she’s widely considered the sibling most like him.
“It’s ironic that I’m the one working most closely with him now,” she said.
But she admits that being alike has had its challenges. While Christie frequently collaborates with her brother Carroll Dashiell III, a drummer who recently graduated from Howard, she and her dad haven’t always found the same creative rhythm in the studio.
“We tried,” she admitted. “But we butted heads. We’re too similar.”
Their connection has deepened in the department, but both father and daughter have had to learn how to set boundaries, balancing familial affection with professional respect. While she saw herself as the OG Professor Dashiell at Howard University, he was calling her “baby” in the hallway during his first week. She had to shut that down, reminding him where they were.
“I had to remind him: I’m Professor Dashiell here,” she said.
After those early bumps, Christie said their relationship began to grow in unexpected ways, especially through conversations about teaching style, philosophy, and what’s working in the classroom.
“I never thought I’d have that kind of relationship with my dad, and it’s deepened our bond,” she said.
Carroll said he felt honored to have such an up-close seat to see his daughter’s artistry, both as a musician and an educator.
“She’s always been talented, but working beside her has given me a new appreciation for her passion,” he said. “She’s serious about her students, about the music, and about the mission. As a dad, I’m proud. As a colleague, I’m inspired.”
Their shared journey has strengthened their appreciation of Howard University.
“There’s a lineage running through Howard, and our family is part of that,” he said. “I hope the Dashiell name is associated with excellence, with passion, with striving for something greater.”
Christie added, “I used to think my legacy would be the music I make. But now I see it’s also the students I teach. If I can pass on even a small part of what my dad gave me, then I’ve done something worthwhile.”
Article ID: 2356