Tahani was born in Cairo, Egypt, and loved math and science from an early age. Her father, Reffat Ayoub, inspired her to pursue activities that were otherwise intended only for boys in the muslim culture, such as riding bikes, fixing cars, and managing business finances. Tahani attended Al Salam High School for Girls in Cairo, Egypt, after which she immigrated to the United States. She enrolled in Old Dominion University in Virginia to pursue a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering.
Tahani reflects, "When I came to the U.S. and took my first advanced calculus class, I could not speak a word of English, but I still earned an “A” in the course. I knew then that an engineering career would be rewarding, full of problem-solving and unlimited potential for innovation".
After her BS in Mechanical Engineering, she received a Master's in Aerospace Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering from Old Dominion University. She then received a Black Belt Six Sigma Certificate from Villanova University, after which she enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Executive Education Program. She subsequently enrolled in Harvard University's Kennedy School Senior Executive Business Program.
As a Program Executive in the Science Mission Directorate, Tahani manages the development of spacecraft systems. Her missions include the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb), and CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) missions. Tahani reflects that her favorite moment in her career includes participating in NASA's public earth day events and communicating the importance of Earth science research with the public.
