UH Law Center alumna Emily Tovar Whittenburg (J.D. ’98)
Jan. 16, 2026 - Inside the pages of Emily Tovar Whittenburg’s high school yearbook, her parting message as a graduating senior was a laser-focused vision for her future: “My goal is to become an international lawyer and work for a law firm.”
Today, Whittenburg oversees a team of over 50 people across six countries, ensuring Nike can operate in 90 different nations. From the agricultural fields of East Bernard to Nike’s global headquarters in Oregon, Whittenburg’s ambitions in her high school yearbook have been achieved.
“For me, law school was always the destination since I was a kid,” Whittenburg said with a laugh.
The more arduous task—and the key to her role as Vice President and Chief Tax Officer at Nike—was the sheer determination required to get through the door. When Whittenburg first set sights on the iconic sports apparel and footwear brand, the front door was effectively locked.
Despite an impressive resume that included years at Shell and major accounting firms, Nike’s HR department didn’t initially move her forward because her most recent experience was in the oil and gas industry, and she lacked retail consumer product experience.
Instead of accepting the rejection, Whittenburg leaned into the persistence she encourages law students to cultivate. She found the email of the hiring manager and sent a message that was as bold as a Nike advertisement: “You don’t know me, but I think you need me on your team. I have skills you need, and I don’t think there’s anybody like me on your staff. You should call me.”
Thirty minutes later, her phone rang.
“I would have never gotten here had I not sent that email,” Whittenburg said. “Don’t listen to ‘no.’ It’s very temporary. If you believe you’re a good fit, keep at it. There’s more than the front door or the email box of an HR person.”
During Whittenburg’s time at Shell from 2012–2020, she navigated complex global tax landscapes. Her resume also includes stints at Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, and Waste Management.
“I tell people it’s a collection of experience and a willingness to say ‘yes,’ to be courageous, and to be tenacious,” Whittenburg said.
Part of Whittenburg’s drive is rooted in East Bernard, Texas, a rural farming community of 2,300 people, about 50 miles southwest of the University of Houston’s campus. Whittenburg watched her parents, Jesse and Amy Tovar, fight for their place in the world. Neither had a college degree, but both possessed a sense of community service.
A defining moment for Whittenburg and her parents involved a grant, a wastewater system, and a decade of determination. Her parents had built a home in a neighborhood that local leaders refused to connect to public water and sewage utilities.
“I watched my mom spearhead a project to get a $500,000 grant to build her own wastewater treatment system,” Whittenburg said. “Years later, after I had graduated law school and was practicing in Houston, those same people who denied us service for my entire life came to her because they needed her system’s capacity.”
In a full-circle moment, Whittenburg used her legal training to help her mother negotiate a deal that secured lifetime free water and sewage for her neighborhood.
“It was the privilege of my life to help her right a wrong that had been done to those families for decades,” she said.
While her family provided inspiration, the University of Houston Law Center provided Whittenburg with the toolkit. A 1998 graduate, Whittenburg credited a trio of legendary professors for shaping her practical approach to the law.
She remembered former Dean Stephen Zamora, who encouraged her to join a Mexico study abroad program—a pivotal experience that allowed her to graduate early and solidified her interest in international business. In the classroom, Professor Robert Ragazzo left a mark with his Business Organizations course, famously using clips from the movie "Wall Street."
Professor Emeritus John Mixon also remains close to Whittenburg’s heart. Known for his drawings and for hosting students at his home, Mixon was the person Whittenburg chose to "hood" her at graduation.
“While they weren't necessarily tax professors, they connected the law in practical ways,” Whittenburg said. “They helped me see a path that was rich and robust, not just doing tax in a law firm, but doing it in a way that impacts a global brand.”
