Sociology Professor Offers Students Lessons Beyond the Classroom
From the very beginning, Gabriele Plickert knew she wanted to make a positive impact in every community she called home. That desire remained unchanged when she arrived in ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ almost a decade ago, becoming a professor of sociology in 2016 and later adding criminology.
The German native received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Toronto, Canada before settling in the United States. Before entering academia, she worked as a research scientist and fellow for various nonprofit agencies and institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Focusing on research involving young adults and environmental issues, she worked to improve evaluation and analysis with the goal of making data easily accessible to the public.
The experience she gained prior to joining Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ is why she was so drawn to the university in the first place.
“When I came to Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, it was attractive for me,” said Plickert. “Thinking of the model ‘learning by doing’--that I could bring my experience to the classroom while teaching sociology and criminology courses.”
Her work outside the classroom enhances her teaching by providing students with different perspectives in sociology and criminology. Her practical experiences allow her to advise students whether they want to pursue graduate school or directly enter the workforce.
“Through my work with the community, I see what is needed or what next pathways students can take,” Plickert said.
In addition to her academic work at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, Plickert serves as an associate with the for the city of ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. The goal of the OVP is to partner with the community and local law enforcement to reduce gun violence and enhance safety. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ has faced significant challenges with crime, most of it linked to gang violence.
However, the city is making strides.
General shootings year-to-date are down 22% compared to 2023 in ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, while gun homicides have dropped by a remarkable 50% compared to this time last year, according to data on the . These numbers demonstrate the positive impact of the OVP and what Plickert hopes her students can contribute to in the future.
She loves to involve students who share her passion for helping the community in the work that she does. Every year, students assist her in conducting research and she helps them find internships opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field. Bringing students along in her work gives them exposure to the professional world where they can see the kind of impact they can make.
Plickert’s work with the OVP and Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ aligns with her goal of exposing students to the real world application of what they learn in the classroom and preparing them for the workforce.
“I would like to give that exposure for students,” Plickert said. “I think this is how we keep students motivated and make sense of our field.”
When Plickert started out in the nonprofit sector, she was a program evaluator, a role that the organization didn’t have at the time but that came to fruition through her skills in research and analysis. She wants students to know that the skills and knowledge they gain from classwork and hands-on experience can open doors across all sectors of the workforce. By understanding this, students won’t limit themselves and will have the confidence when it comes time to apply to graduate school and jobs. She emphasizes that being present and building skills are more essential than chasing a specific job title.
For Plickert, her work extends beyond classrooms. By bridging the gap between academic teaching and community action, she’s not just teaching students about social change, she’s showing them how to create it. And in a city where gun violence and crime statistics are finally moving in the right direction, her students are learning that their work matters, and that they have the power to transform the communities they serve.