Three new Preview the World courses taking first-year and transfer students to Austin, Texas; Reykjavík, Iceland; and Munich, Germany made their debut at the 2025 Study Abroad Fair. Hosted by the Division of Civic and Global Engagement, this annual event showcases the many Preview and Global Field Study (GFS) courses, as well as semester and summer abroad programs, while providing a space for students to meet with instructors and get a taste of each destination’s culture.

Associate Professor of Education Dr. Marc Brasof’s course, BBQ: America’s Favorite Cuisine, will explore what goes into the intersection of food and culture, and the social contexts that make barbecue important in the United States by visiting what Brasof calls “the heart of BBQ in the United States,” Austin, Texas. 

Over the past year, Brasof started his own barbecue business, Head Bangin’ BBQ, which was inspired by the community-building aspects of his musical journey as the drummer for the band Stereotytans.

“BBQ and I became fast friends over the past three years, and I took a serious dive in learning how to become a pitmaster,” he said. “I’ve been teaching education for close to 15 years, but the first half of my teaching career was as a social studies educator. I missed it and truly enjoyed teaching the intersection of history and sociology when I was a high school teacher. Designing a course on BBQ as a foodway seemed like a natural extension of what excites me about teaching and cooking.”

After taking a three-day course on BBQ in Austin at Leroy & Lewis, one of the only BBQ restaurants in the U.S. with a Michelin star, Brasof designed the Preview course.

“Austin is an ideal location because all elements that make for delicious BBQ are present there: cattle ranches, post-oak wood, smoker fabricators, and a community of pitmasters who have mastered and teach others the techniques of BBQ that have been passed down over the past three centuries here in the U.S.,” he said. “We are going to see and experience all of this.”

This is exactly what Jenna Carr ’29 was looking for in a Preview the World course.

“I grew up eating barbecue, and it would be great to learn about the culture, history, and flavor of everything that came from it,” she said.

The course will culminate in two pop-up cookouts for the University, with students crafting the menu.    

Professor of Physics Dr. Tatjana Miletic and Adjunct Professor of Physics Kim Small teamed up to create the course, Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice, which will examine the natural and cultural landscape of Iceland by traveling to Reykjavík.

“As science professors, we are especially drawn to Iceland’s natural wonders, its geothermal renewable energy, volcanic landscape, Northern Lights, and breathtaking scenery,” Miletic explained. “Reykjavík is the ideal choice for a Preview course, offering a wealth of opportunities and experiences.”

Students will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the country within the capital city, as well as experience its beautiful landscapes.

“We are excited to introduce students to the wonders of Iceland–including its waterfalls, hot springs, black sand beaches, and the northern lights–while also exploring the country’s rich Viking history, and a culture distinct from our own,” Miletic said. “We hope this experience will encourage students to grow in confidence, broaden their perspectives, and develop a lifelong openness to new ideas and experiences as they explore the world.”

“I’ve seen videos of Iceland online, and it’s one of the most beautiful places,” said Gideon Liciaga ’29, who put Reykjavík in his top 3 Preview choices. “I would love to travel there.”

Associate Director of the International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program Allyson McCreery and Adjunct Professor of English Rhianon Visinsky are bringing the expertise they’ve gained through teaching a Munich, Germany, GFS course to students going on Preview. 

“Professor McCreery and I have led a GFS to Germany for quite a few years now, so we are absolutely in love with the country,” Visinsky explained. “It offers a little bit of everything to the students. The city of Munich is full of urban attractions, and the surrounding towns are stunning. We love traveling to the Alps to explore the beautiful lakes and forests. The castles are also insanely beautiful. Germany really does have everything!”

Their course, “Germany: Gorgeous & Grimm,” offers insight into how landscapes and architecture can influence fairy tales, particularly through the inspiration that the Brothers Grimm found in Germany.

“I’m excited to show students the cultural and natural beauty of Germany,” said McCreery. “We do a lot of exploring within Munich, but also in the local landscape of Bavaria. I hope students gain the experience that we can learn a lot about a culture, traditions, and people by exploring beyond major cities.”

“For me, the thing about Germany that is most attractive is its fairy tales,” Visinsky added. “The stories make the landscape come to life! This is what I hope students get excited about. So many famous fairy tales came from this landscape, so we’ll explore the stories here and get to see why Germany is so full of them when we get there.”

Other Preview the World courses, GFS courses, and various study abroad opportunities were also present at the fair, presenting their material to students interested in traveling around the globe. View the full list of Preview courses here, the full list of GFS courses here, and the full list of approved semester abroad programs here.