2025 Outstanding Faculty Scholarship
California State University, San Bernardino
Professor, Criminal Justice
Why do I work on so many interdisciplinary projects that create student research opportunities? The answer is simple. As a scholar, I relish every chance to learn something new. As a faculty member, I am inspired to do my part to empower the next generation."
Dr. Gisela Bichler is a professor of criminal justice and co-founder of the Center for Criminal Justice Research at Cal State San Bernardino.
Bichler is known as an international leader in crime analysis, situational crime prevention and social network analysis. A prolific researcher whose work has been cited nearly 2,000 times, Dr. Bichler has authored 63 publications and 44 technical reports and has given more than 100 research presentations to audiences around the world. Within the last five years alone, she has published “Understanding Criminal Networks: A Research Guide” with the University of California Press, more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and three book chapters. Many of her scholarly works have included students as co-authors, providing them with valuable and impactful experiences.
Bichler has also secured more than $4.5 million in external funding, with nearly $2 million of that amount coming from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Justice and the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently, she serves as principal investigator on a four-year, nearly $1 million grant from NSF.
In the classroom, Bichler is a widely sought-after teacher whose connections with her students last long after graduation, including those who continue to work with her on research projects. She also serves as a mentor, motivator and source of inspiration to new faculty, often including them in her research projects and offering career advice. Bichler was also instrumental in elevating the Intelligence and Crime Analysis option into a new bachelor of science degree program. Launched in 2007 with five students, the program now consistently enrolls 70-100 students.
At the university level, her numerous contributions include serving for five years on CSUSB’s High Impact Practices Steering Committee and the Faculty Research Advisory Council, among others.
Externally, she provides a wealth of pro bono support to local and national police departments and public service agencies to help analyze patterns of criminal activity. Her extensive investigative works have been harnessed to prevent crime, disrupt unlawful markets and reduce community crime, particularly in the areas of gang violence, international and regional drug trafficking, and illicit small arms and light weapons.
Bichler earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in criminal justice from Rutgers University.