Brilliant then returned to Yale to pursue graduate studies with a range of scholars in archaeology and art history, including Harald Ingholt, Vincent Scully, and Kurt Weitzmann.

[5] In the spring term of 1971 Brilliant taught courses at the University of Pittsburgh as Mellon Visiting Professor.

In March 2002, an international colloquium "The Art of Rome: Shifting Boundaries, Evolving Definitions," celebrated his accomplishments and was attended by scores of former students and colleagues.

Brilliant was also the Director of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America at Columbia University during its formative years (1996–2000).

Brilliant served on the Governing Board of the Society of Fellows in the Humanities at Columbia University for many years, and as its Chairman (1982–1984).

He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1967 and returned to Italy to immerse himself in other aspects of Roman and Greek art.

Encouraged by his broad vision and scope of interests, his students have pursued significant careers as academics, researchers, and practitioners in the field of classical art history[citation needed].