In the late 1990s, Sanjay Shah and Rachelle Mendez were assigned to work together on a group project in a rhetoric class at the University of California, Berkeley. This collaboration laid the foundation for their ongoing friendship and professional partnership that has spanned over two decades, resulting in successful careers in television and recognition such as Emmy awards.
Sanjay Shah has built a career as a writer, showrunner, and executive producer on shows like “Everybody Still Hates Chris,” an animated comedy based on Chris Rock’s childhood. His credits also include work on comedies such as “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Central Park,” “South Park,” and “King of the Hill.” Rachelle Mendez is known for her work as a producer, writer, and showrunner in unscripted television. Her projects include “Queer Eye,” “The Hype,” “Undercover Boss,” and “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” She currently leads unscripted programming at Hyphenate Media Group.
Mendez entered UC Berkeley with experience as an actor from a performing arts high school but chose to focus on academics through rhetoric. “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 his academic direction after enrolling in Professor Russell Merritt’s film noir class by chance. “That experience not only led me to find my career but also to a lifelong love for film,” said Shah. “The rhetoric major, Russell Merritt, and a four-DVD Netflix plan was my film school.”
Both credit their studies in rhetoric with preparing them for Hollywood careers by teaching them how stories function and how narratives can influence audiences. “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 noted that rhetoric offered tools relevant for producing unscripted television: understanding character development, structure, and emotional stakes.
A key moment during their time at Berkeley came when Professor Stephen John Hartnett invited both students to serve as teaching assistants at San Quentin State Prison—a formative experience they describe 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 incarcerated youth by teaching playwriting in juvenile detention centers.
Shah drew inspiration from this experience years later when he wrote and sold a TV show based on their time teaching at San Quentin.
Their professional paths reflect efforts to broaden representation within Hollywood storytelling. For Shah, this became clear after his son’s birth when he had the choice between working on an established show or joining “Fresh Off The Boat.” He explained: “I had a choice: work on a high-profile show or take a chance on a new show, Fresh Off The Boat, the first show about an Asian American family in 20 years,” he said. “Fresh Off the Boat wasn’t guaranteed, but 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,” he said. “I realized I could make an argument for shows that reflect the world my son would grow up in.”
Mendez also emphasized increased visibility through her casting choices: “Years ago, I started to hone in on whose story we were telling,” she said…“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.” In her current position at Hyphenate Media Group she oversees unscripted development including projects like Necaxa (a spin-off of Welcome to Wrexham), CNN’s Searching for Spain series, and NFL Hometown Eats produced with NFL Films.
Reflecting on their continued connection since college days—speaking weekly about their craft—both see value not only in academic learning but also lasting friendships forged during university life.“I cannot emphasize enough: it’s not just what you learn in school that matters. It’s equally if not more important who you surround yourself with,” said Shah.“The right friendships become incredibly valuable.It’s worth keeping those connections alive.”
“There’s a side of Cal where there’s really no limit on what you can explore or what version of yourself you’d like to audition,” added Mendez.“You have this buffet of options,but at some point,you have to stick to the thing that sparks you.”
Looking ahead,the pair hopes to strengthen UC Berkeley’s alumni network within Los Angeles’ entertainment industry.They are encouraging more students from Berkeley toward Hollywood careers.As part of these efforts,Sanjay Shah will teach screenwriting at UC Berkeley’s Art of Writing program beginning spring 2026,and plans include inviting Rachelle Mendez into his classroom as guest speaker.
