Dr. Willson is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona. His passion is mentoring young planners and other change makers. A Guide for the Idealist: Launching and Navigating Your Career ( 2018) provides insight on mastering the dance of idealism and realism in practice. His American Planning Association blog is called Launching Your Planning Career: A Guide for Idealists.
Dr. Willson’s planning research and practice concerns parking reform and transit-oriented development. His 2013 book, Parking Reform Made Easy provides a method for reforming minimum parking requirement. Parking Management for Smart Growth (2015) outlines a strategic approach to parking management in the context of a sharing economy. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Willson consults on parking issues with regional and local agencies such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, local cities, and developers of urban infill projects.
Dr. Willson is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is the recipient of the Cal Poly Pomona Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.
Dr. Willson’s planning research and practice concerns parking reform and transit-oriented development. His 2013 book, Parking Reform Made Easy provides a method for reforming minimum parking requirement. Parking Management for Smart Growth (2015) outlines a strategic approach to parking management in the context of a sharing economy. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Willson consults on parking issues with regional and local agencies such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, local cities, and developers of urban infill projects.
Dr. Willson is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is the recipient of the Cal Poly Pomona Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.
Education
Ph.D. in Urban Planning, Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Master in Planning, University of Southern California
Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Univ. of Waterloo
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
Professional development, mentoring, planning theory and practice, transportation planning, parking supply and management.
Personal Interests
Landscape painting in oil and marathon running.
