As The Center’s new public policy director, Sean Wherley has his work cut out for him. From forming bonds with local schools to make them safer for GLBT youth to the Marriage Equality and Education Project, Wherley said he plans to meet these challenges head on.

Wherley will replace AJ Davis, whose last day was June 23. Davis was with The Center for four years and was pivotal in addressing many of the city’s GLBT civil rights issues. A few of her accomplishments include conducting several comprehensive voter education projects, spearheading a marriage equality campaign and advocating for the elimination of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Her aptitude and compassion will be sorely missed, but Wherley said he intends to continue Davis’ efforts.

“She’s a strong advocate and will be a hard act to follow,” Wherley said, “and I plan to support the programs she [has] put into place.”

Wherley is new to the Hillcrest community and to the city of San Diego. Originally from Sun Prairie, Wis., he first became interested in GLBT affairs at the University of Minnesota, where he led a successful protest to end a university-sponsored blood drive that discriminated against gay men.

While still in college, Wherley was an exchange student in Tanzania for a year, where he believes he gained a great outlook on life. After college, he spent three years working for elected officials and lobbyist groups in Washington, D.C. There he learned the ins and outs of the political system, which he hopes to find useful in his current position.

Wherley said his greatest challenge will be learning the past 30 years of public policy issues the senior management team at The Center has worked on.

His goal for the next year is to work on the safer-schools initiative and to keep the Marriage Equality and Education Project on the public’s radar.

Wherley plans to hold public events over the next year to raise awareness and keep people motivated for the 2007 ballot.

In his spare time, Wherley enjoys playing sports and traveling. He just finished playing his first season with the America’s Finest City Softball League and plans to join the S.D. Hoops basketball league. He also loves to write, and considers himself a current-events junkie.