Get to Know HFC: Teaching keeps Dr. Jamie Dahman connected to singing

Dr. Jamie Dahman always knew he was destined to become a teacher.

HFC Pre-Education Director Dr. Carolyn Casale recruited Dahman to teach at HFC. They worked together previously at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.

“Carolyn reached out to me,” he said. “She told me, ‘Our Pre-Education Program is growing. Please apply.’ I’m very glad that I did, and I really enjoy teaching [the course] Performing Arts and Humanities in the Classroom.”

Fulbright Scholar who studied in Bulgaria

Born in Brenham, TX, Dahman is the eldest of three sons. “My original plan was to be a performer, but that didn’t happen for various reasons. I decided to teach music so that I can stay involved in the discipline,” said Dahman, laughing.

Dahman graduated from Iola High School in Iola, TX. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Abilene Christian University. He earned both his master’s degree in vocal performance and literature and his certificate in vocal performance from Northwestern University. He later earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

“Like every good Texas boy, I was expected to teach history and coach high school football. I asked myself: ‘Is this something I want to do or is this something I’m supposed to do?’ I enjoyed singing, so I changed my major to music. I’m still teaching, but it doesn’t look the way many thought it would,” he explained.

Dahman, who is a tenor, also studied at the Academy of Music Dance and Fine Arts for the majority of 2012 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria as a Fulbright Scholar. He speaks conversational Bulgarian as a result.

“My wife (at the time) was from Bulgaria. I thought it would be cool to live in Bulgaria for a while. I studied Bulgarian classical vocal music. I fell in love with the city of Plovdiv. I take my children there to see their grandparents every few years and spend time with friends there.”

Dahman called his time in Bulgaria “one of the best experiences” of his life.

“It was the first time that I had spent a significant amount of time outside the United States,” he recalled. “It was very eye-opening and humbling, yet so life-affirming. It felt like a post-doctoral opportunity. I became friends with my fellow students. The relationships were, in many ways, more significant than the course of study.”

An amazing addition to HFC’s pre-ed program

Dahman has been teaching for 20 years. Besides HFC, he has taught at several educational institutions, including:

• Delta State University
• U-M Dearborn
• U-M Flint
• Northwestern University
• Macomb Community College
• Moody Bible Institute
• Music Institute of Chicago
• Lone Star College-Kingwood
• Stephen F. Austin State University
• University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff

“I really enjoy teaching at HFC. Many of the students are immigrants or first-generation Americans or first-generation college students. They appreciate their educational opportunities to a great extent, and they take education very seriously. I’m impressed by how disciplined, kind, and respectful they are,” he said.

Casale has known Dahman since 2017.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Dahman teaching in the Pre-Education Program,” she said. “He is a dedicated, diligent, and caring instructor. Students often remark on how he supports and encourages them throughout the semester. As a colleague and Fulbright alumnus, he brings a great deal to our program. He provided his expertise in reviewing our Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence application. His support led to our successful application to bring Dr. Fakhra Aziz to our campus this fall. It’s a pleasure to work with Jamie; he is such an amazing addition to our program.”