Nancy Katayama graduated from Scripps College in 1977. Nancy has served as a Scripps trustee since 2000, and supported them through a capital and fundraising campaign. Nancy got involved with UC Santa Barbara in\ 2018 after her nephew started at the institution.

Nancy connected with UC Santa Barbara’s Asian American Studies program and launched the first endowed scholarship in honor of her father, Shig Katayama, for the program alongside her sister, Tracy Katayama Esse. She serves as the president of the Nancy Katayama Foundation and holds a variety of business leadership positions, including Partner, Tifkat, L.P. She is a resident of Pacific Palisades, California.