Paul Dodd is a native of Summers County, West Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University and holds a Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard University. He is the recipient of a distinguished alumnus award from WVU. He spent 37 years in federal service working for the U. S. Department of Agriculture in West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, and New York. His last position was as State Conservationist in New York. He twice represented the U. S. on scientific assignments to Hungary. He taught Political Science for 15 years for Columbia College at locations in Syracuse, NY, and Orlando, FL.