In the late 1990s, Sanjay Shah and Rachelle Mendez met during a group project in a rhetoric class at the University of California, Berkeley. That initial collaboration led to a long-standing friendship and creative partnership that has shaped their careers in the television industry.
Shah is now known as a writer, showrunner, and executive producer for Everybody Still Hates Chris, an animated series based on Chris Rock’s childhood. His other credits include Fresh Off the Boat, Central Park, South Park, and King of the Hill. Mendez works as a producer, writer, and showrunner for unscripted television with projects such as Queer Eye, The Hype, Undercover Boss, and Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. She currently leads unscripted programming at Hyphenate Media Group.
Mendez came to Berkeley from a performing arts background but chose to focus on academics. “I thought, ‘I already know how to be an actor; I don’t know how to be a student,’” she said. “So I chose to focus on academics. What was enchanting about rhetoric was that it felt very similar to acting. The way an actor breaks a script into beats was like looking at language in rhetoric.”
Shah initially intended to major in economics but switched paths after attending a film noir class taught by Professor Russell Merritt. “That experience not only led me to find my career but also to a lifelong love for film,” Shah said. “The rhetoric major, Russell Merritt, and a four-DVD Netflix plan was my film school.”
Both credit their studies in rhetoric with providing skills relevant for Hollywood—such as breaking down stories and understanding narrative arguments. “Rhetoric gives you a way of analyzing and understanding tropes and how you’re arguing in a story, script or joke,” said Shah. “It’s such a great major, especially for someone who wants to pursue stand-up or screenwriting. So much of good stand-up is making an argument.” Mendez added that studying rhetoric gave her tools similar to those used in acting: interpreting character motivations and structure.
A pivotal moment during their time at Berkeley came when Professor Stephen John Hartnett invited them to serve as teaching assistants at San Quentin State Prison. Both described this experience as transformative. “It was one of the most core-shaking experiences of my time at Cal,” said Mendez. “It was something Cal does so well: opening doors if you’re curious or brave enough to step through.”
After graduation, Mendez continued working with young people in detention centers by teaching playwriting—reinforcing her belief in storytelling as both creative practice and empowerment tool.
For Shah, his experience teaching at San Quentin later inspired him to write and sell a television show based on that period of his life.
Both alumni have made choices aimed at broadening representation within television narratives. For Shah, joining Fresh Off the Boat marked such a decision: “I had a choice: work on a high-profile show or take a chance on a new show… I chose it because I wanted to tell the stories of the way America actually looks.” He added: “That moment — seeing how stories I care about could succeed — was pivotal for me… I realized I could make an argument for shows that reflect the world my son would grow up in.”
Mendez recounted her shift toward prioritizing visibility while producing Queer Eye: “Years ago, I started to hone in on whose story we were telling… I cast the first Chicana on Queer Eye. I was so vulnerable and proud seeing the imagery I grew up with: Deanna Muñoz’s mother-in-law making tortillas, a Virgin Mary statue in their front yard.”
Currently overseeing Hyphenate Media Group’s unscripted projects—including Necaxa (a Welcome to Wrexham spin-off), CNN’s Searching for Spain, and NFL Hometown Eats—Mendez continues her focus on diverse storytelling.
Both emphasize maintaining connections formed during college as vital resources throughout their careers. “The right friendships become incredibly valuable,” said Shah.
They are also planning efforts to strengthen ties among UC Berkeley alumni working in Hollywood and encourage more students from their alma mater into entertainment careers. As part of these plans, Shah will teach screenwriting at Berkeley through the Art of Writing program in spring 2026 with Mendez appearing as guest speaker.
