Our Team
Fatema Boxwala
As Strategist, Fatema dives deep into our clients’ issue areas and helps them realize their goals. She develops facilitation plans that are simple, fun, and purposeful to gather thoughtful input and reach consensus when needed. She synthesizes meeting outcomes and translates them into functional, flexible tools that help our clients implement their strategies and adapt them as needed over time. As our team visionary, Fatema also helps The Work Department imagine our own future as a small business by facilitating us to dream up new and better ways of working together and with our partners.
Fatema brings a deep empathy and understanding of human relationships to her work as a Strategist. She draws on her background in public health and human-centered design to inform how organizations can work better internally and together. Her experience working in government agencies and philanthropy helps her understand the opportunity each sector has to better serve communities. Prior to joining The Work Department in 2015, she worked as a Program Associate for the DMC Foundation where she supported grant application and review. She also worked as a designer at People’s Liberty to develop branding and tools that set the tone for the 5-year philanthropic initiative that awarded grants directly to individuals in the Cincinnati community. Earlier in her career, Fatema facilitated community emergency preparedness planning and vaccine administration during the H1N1 pandemic as a health educator at the Washtenaw County Public Health Department. As a Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations fellow and principal investigator, she published original research on breast screening practices among Asian Indian women in metro Detroit. Fatema has a BA from the University of Michigan in cultural anthropology, a BFA from College for Creative Studies in graphic design, and a MPH from the University of Michigan in health behavior and education.
Libby Cole
As Creative Director & Facilitator, Libby prioritizes people’s lived experience and expertise in her approach. She is an empathetic facilitator who creates space for people to share openly and radically. Guided by these insights, Libby leads the design of effective, iconic visuals that are intentional and functional. While prioritizing clients’ needs, she creates tools that can be used and adapted over time—often by the client themselves. Readability and accessibility is the focus of every project. As The Work Department’s head of operations, Libby also maintains a transparent, open-book management process for our business.
Libby joined The Work Department as a designer soon after its founding in 2010, became partner in 2014, and is now owner. Prior to that she worked as a lead designer at Skidmore Studios in Detroit and Stop Studios in Durham, NC. She also worked as an Adjunct Graphic Design professor at College for Creative Studies, where she is a graduate with a BFA in graphic design. In 2017, she co-led a team of women in curating an exhibition of Detroit design at the Saint-Etienne Design Biennale. Having worked in the design field for over 15 years, she has worked with a range of nonprofit, corporate, community groups, and social justice organizations. While her experience is diverse, she is most passionate about democratic design focused on equity, sustainability, and community development. Libby also volunteers with local community and cultural organizations, most recently with the Detroit Sound Conservancy. Her work has been recognized locally and nationally.
Denise McGeen
As Project Manager, Denise brings a pragmatic and organized approach to collaborating with our clients. She sets up and manages flexible work plans that ensure success and help us work better together. She is the lead point of contact with clients and works closely with them to communicate project updates. She works closely with our team to co-develop strategies and deliverables that meet our clients’ needs. Denise is also our team writer and copy-editor, helping ensure our communications are clear and accessible.
Denise studied as a historian with a focus on architectural history, historic preservation, and urban planning in rust belt and post-industrial cities. She brings an understanding of the historic context and systemic barriers faced by Black and Brown communities, along with insights into nonprofit and philanthropic practices and organizational structures gleaned from over 10 years working in adjacent fields. Prior to joining The Work Department in 2017, she was at Issue Media Group where she worked closely with clients and supported business operations as the Client Services Director for this small community-based media organization. Prior to that she worked as an architectural historian for Parsons Brinckerhoff, assessing the impact of infrastructure projects to communities. She also supported small businesses as a freelance Business Development and Communications Specialist. Her background includes serving on the board of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network for 10 years, and as the Board Chair for 3 years. Denise has a BA in English from the University of Michigan, a MA in public history from the State University of New York at Albany, and a certificate degree in historic preservation from Eastern Michigan University.
LaToya Morgan
As a frequent collaborator, LaToya brings expertise in strategy development, program design, and facilitation. Her superpower is “listening between the lines” to distill core needs that draw and shape connections to determine the right resources - people, ideas, strategies - to create equitable solutions. Her analytical background in public policy allows her to synthesize complex ideas into operational strategies. LaToya has a BA in social relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a MPA from Wayne State University in public policy and program evaluation with a certificate in economic development. As a consultant, she primarily works with nonprofits and foundations. LaToya has been a key collaborator with The Work Department since 2018.