The global pandemic of 2020 changed everything—from how we work to how we care for one another. One thing became clear across all sectors: we needed better, more reliable ways to connect when we couldn't be together in person.

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In healthcare, telemedicine surged—offering safe, timely access to care without physical barriers. ​The same disruption—and opportunity—emerged in education. Schools and universities struggled to maintain continuity and connection, particularly in areas such as student support. Teachers and counselors were forced to use disjointed tools, insecure platforms, and manual systems that were never designed for meaningful, remote interaction.

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That's when Brandon Barker and Debra Hays stepped in. As parents, they witnessed their children grapple with these broken systems. As innovators, they recognized a broader problem: there wasn't a single platform built to support real-time, secure human connection in educational environments—especially for counseling and mental health.

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VirtuOwl was born from that need. What began as a solution for K–12 tutoring and counseling during the pandemic has since evolved into a mission-driven platform built specifically for university counseling centers.

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Today, VirtuOwl provides higher education institutions with the tools they need to support students more effectively—secure scheduling, compliant messaging, real-time documentation, and a centralized platform that makes it all easier.

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Our founding belief remains the same:

Technology should enable human connection—not replace it.

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And now, more than ever, universities need tools that help counselors do what they do best—be present for students without being buried in paperwork.