Mark Brilliant is an Associate Professor of American Studies and History at UC Berkeley. Prior to being at Berkeley, Brilliant was a swimmer at Brown University. After researching K-12 education in his undergraduate studies, he taught for the organization Teach for America in its early stages in New York City. Later, Brilliant went on to get a PhD in History from Stanford University.

Today, Professor Brilliant gives some of the most captivating lectures at Cal, currently researching and writing a book about the rise and origin of Silicon Valley as the nations leading technology hub.