Tracy Katayama-Esse was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan where she graduated from The American School. She then attended Pomona College and majored in Asian Studies. After graduating from Pomona, Tracy worked at her father’s medical equipment company that she now manages with her sister, Nancy.

Tracy’s interest in UC Santa Barbara grew during her son’s freshman year on campus.  She was very impressed that UCSB had the first “Asian-American” Studies Department and decided to start a scholarship with her sister honoring their father, Shig Katayama, who was incarcerated at Manzanar during WWII.