Dr. Amanda Groff, professor of anthropology, visits the Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe on May 14.
Courtesy of Dr. Amanda Groff
Dr. Amanda Groff, an anthropology professor, is using passion and pop culture to create a fun and exciting way to learn through an anthropology class themed around the iconic adventures within the “Harry Potter” series.
Groff is a senior lecturer, online program coordinator for UCF’s Department of Anthropology and the self-appointed headmistress of the “Hufflepuff House” at UCF, a spin on the building where she works — Howard Phillips Hall. Groff has found a way to connect pop culture with courses designed around it.
From chapters on archaeology with character Arthur Weasley to filming at Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter or baking highlights from Food Network’s “Wizards of Baking,” Groff uses the magic of “Harry Potter” to teach students about the real world of anthropology.
Groff proposed the online course ANT 3017, Muggle Studies: Anthropology of Harry Potter, to entice students who are fans of popular culture to study anthropology. Groff said that, as a fan herself, reading the “Harry Potter” books was what helped her get through her Ph.D. program.
Groff has used video excerpts of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe and Ministry of Magic ride “Floo Network” and a sepia-colored moving portrait showing a wizardly Groff raising a “Read Your Syllabus” sign in gif form to entertain fans and students right from the start of class.
Kas Ambut, junior environmental studies major, took the class in the spring of 2025. Ambut is a “passive fan” and said that studying subfields of anthropology, such as archeology, through the character Arthur Weasley’s Magical Artifacts lesson was engaging and a lot of fun.
Another chapter titled “From Butterbeer to Chocolate Frogs: The Anthropology of Food” explores the real-world application of food studies to understand a culture.
Hosts James and Oliver Phelps with competitors Katie Bonzer and Jujhar Mann on Food Network’s Harry Potter Wizards of Baking season 2.
Courtesy of Food Network
Actors James and Oliver Phelps, who played George and Fred Weasley in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, are twin hosts of Food Network’s “Wizards of Baking.” Oliver Phelps said he finds the idea of using Harry Potter in education “amazing.”
“They always say, the best way to get people to learn something is to find it relatable,” Oliver Phelps said. “Potter has been around for so long, it is part of people’s psyche, whether they know it or not.”
“Wizards of Baking” season 2 contestant Katie Bonzer, an Orlando-based chocolatier and founder of Practical Chocolate, described how being in Orlando creates a fun integration of student interests and education.
“That’s a brilliant use of fandom for a university located in Orlando with such strong ties to pop culture and storytelling,” Bonzer said. “I love learning, and I would definitely take the course, butterbeer included!”
Bonzer joined the baking show alongside veteran Jujhar Mann, competing to make “Harry Potter”-themed creations.
Groff said her Muggle Studies course will feature “Wizards of Baking” highlights in the upcoming sessions.
“Food is comfort, ‘Harry Potter’ is comfort. When I’m not feeling well, I put ‘Harry Potter’ on,” Groff said. “It’s such a great blend with what they are making with this show.”
Groff doesn’t plan on hanging up her sorting hat anytime soon on class offerings, and she excitedly explained how the new HBO Max “Harry Potter” television series will bring a new generation of “Harry Potter” enthusiasts to UCF when it’s released in 2027.
“The immense popularity, the response that I get from students; this course is going to stick around, and, in fact, they are increasing the frequency of offerings of it,” Groff said.
Groff announced that there might be a summer term class starting in 2026.
“Whether it’s the older, original movies, the books, or the television series, [the class] is going to span a lot of people and their interests,” Groff said. “I don’t think my class is going anywhere anytime soon.”