Knut A. Hestad

Prof. Dr. Knut A. Hestad is a Full Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist with dual affiliations at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University) and the Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway. With a prolific academic career spanning several decades, Prof. Hestad has contributed extensively to the fields of cognitive neuropsychology, neuropsychological assessment, and the intersection of mental health and brain function. 

He has authored or co-authored approximately 98 publications, amassing over 3,700 citations, and has collaborated with research institutions across Norway, Africa, and the United States. His work is published in leading international journals indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Prof. Hestad has held long-standing academic and clinical research positions at INN University (formerly Hedmark University of Applied Sciences) and Innlandet Hospital Trust, where he has served as both a practising Clinical Neuropsychologist and a research leader. 

He has also been affiliated with the Department of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim. His career includes neuropsychological assessment of patients with psychiatric conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and other complex clinical presentations, alongside supervision of doctoral and postgraduate researchers.

Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological Assessment, Depression and Neuroinflammation, HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), Neurodegenerative Diseases and Dementia, Obesity and Cognitive Function, Quantitative EEG (QEEG) and Event-related Potentials, Kynurenine Pathway and Brain-Gut Communication, Long COVID and Neuropsychological Outcomes, ADHD and Executive Function, Ageing and Cognitive Decline.

Prof. Hestad’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the integration of clinical practice and scientific inquiry. He believes students of neuropsychology must develop both rigorous analytical skills and sensitivity to the lived experience of patients. 

His pedagogy encourages critical engagement with standardized assessment tools, diagnostic frameworks, and emerging research findings. He fosters a research-oriented environment where theoretical knowledge is continuously tested against real-world clinical cases, preparing students for the complexities of neuropsychological practice and research.

Prof. Hestad has taught and supervised at graduate and postgraduate levels in Clinical Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological Assessment, Cognitive Psychology, Psychopathology, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and Research Methods in Health Sciences. 

He has supervised doctoral candidates at NTNU and INN University on topics such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, obesity-related cognitive dysfunction, and dementia assessment.

• Prof. Menon has received several prestigious awards, including the Denmark-Gunvald Award for Feminist Research and Service (2022), African Women Leaders Award (2019), UK Alumni Award for Professional Achievement in Sub-Saharan Africa (2018), Most Influential Woman in Education and Training Award by CEO Global (Africa) (2017), and the Labor Day Award by the Government of Zambia (2014). 
• She has also secured research grants worth more than USD 7 million from DFID, UKRI, NIH, NORAD, USAID, and other agencies. 

Prof. Menon has made significant contributions to the development of Psychology in Zambia and became the first female full Professor of Psychology there through international review. She founded the Psychology Association of Zambia and established the Master’s and Ph.D. programmes in Psychology at the University of Zambia. 

She is internationally respected for her research on HIV, Gender-Based Violence, and vulnerable populations. She has led major research development grants, written training manuals, published more than 250 papers, and served as an external examiner for Ph.D. candidates from Australia, South Africa, India, Canada, and Norway. 

For more than a decade, she also led the University of Zambia’s institutional response to HIV and AIDS, spearheading policy and strategic planning initiatives.