David Dodson graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies and went on to get a master’s in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University.
Early in his career, he worked with an international architectural engineering firm based in Houston designing overseas embassies, campus master plans and corporate headquarters for Chrysler, 3M, IBM and Shell Oil.
Later, David returned to California to work as a project manager with a regional planning firm on large-scale master plans including the 3,748-acre Wood Ranch in Simi Valley, California and the 2,947-acre Cinco Ranch in Houston, Texas.
David moved to Corvallis over 25 years ago where he worked for the city’s planning department processing land use applications, overseeing the city’s historic preservation program and updating the 2020 Vision Statement and the Comprehensive Plan. He went on to become the land use planning manager at Oregon State University during a nine-year period when the university underwent the largest capital campaign and most new building construction in its 150-year history.
After his career with the City of Corvallis, David started Willamette Valley Planning, a firm that provides consulting services including land use planning, landscape design, and preparation of development applications.
Professional Awards
- Oregon Downtown Development Association Achievement Award; A Vision for Downtown Corvallis
- National 3CMA Award, Best Visioning Process; Corvallis 2020 Vision Statement
- Texas Society of Landscape Architects Award of Excellence; Carnegie-Mellon Univ. Master Plan
- National North American Prairie Conference Honor Award; 3M Divisional Headquarters
- National Arbor Day Foundation Project Award; 3M Divisional Headquarters
- Texas Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award; Chrysler Technology Center
- Texas Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award; 3M Divisional Headquarters
- PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit, Best Community Site Plan; Wood Ranch