Katie Masano Hill is a fifth-generation Japanese American (Gosei) from Lafayette, Indiana. She graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Museum Studies at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in historical preservation and cultural heritage.
Her thesis focuses on the administration of the Tule Lake Segregation Center and examines how archival records from the War Relocation Authority (1942–1946) reflect systems of social control, psychological stress, and resilience. Through qualitative content analysis, her research explores governance, living conditions, and mental health among Japanese Americans unjustly incarcerated during World War II. Her goal is to inform trauma-informed museum interpretation that balances historical accuracy with empathy and respect for survivors’ experiences.
Katie’s passion for advocacy is deeply rooted in her background in social work and her family’s history of incarceration. Her great-grandparents were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated at Heart Mountain, Tule Lake, and Topaz, where they endured harsh conditions but ultimately survived. Her great-uncle, however, died in camp at only 24 years old. His story, and the countless others marked by loss and silence, fuels Katie’s dedication to preserving these histories and educating future generations about civil liberties and justice.
In addition to her policy work, Katie is a copy editor for Tessaku, a project dedicated to preserving oral histories of Japanese American incarceration. Her written work has also been published in Kioku, a Japanese American journal amplifying stories of intergenerational memory and resilience.
Katie also serves on the Wakasa Memorial Committee, which works to honor and preserve the memory of James Wakasa, a Japanese American man shot and killed by a guard at the Topaz concentration camp in 1943. Her involvement reflects her ongoing commitment to truth-telling and memorialization, ensuring that stories are remembered with the dignity they deserve.
As the Norman Y. Mineta Fellow, Katie works with the JACL Policy Team to advocate for policies that uplift the Japanese American and broader Asian American communities. She is honored to carry forward the legacy of her ancestors and is passionate about preserving and sharing their stories to inspire empathy and understanding.