Welcoming Dan Deem as CEO: A New Chapter for VirtuOwl and Student Mental Health

At VirtuOwl, we’ve always believed in the power of human connection—especially when it comes to supporting the well-being of students. Today, we’re excited to announce a new chapter in our journey as we welcome Dan Deem as our Chief Executive Officer and chart a bold path forward focused on mental health counseling in higher education. 

Dan brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience in the education technology space, with a career spanning some of the most trusted names in the industry, including Apple, Panasonic, Promethean, and Clevertouch, as well as impactful early-stage startups. Throughout his career, he’s helped organizations grow, evolve, and thrive by delivering cutting-edge SaaS and hardware solutions designed to enhance learning environments and support the needs of educators and students alike. 

But what sets Dan apart isn’t just his proven leadership—it’s his vision. 

A New Focus: Counseling Support That Works 

As Dan steps into the CEO role, VirtuOwl is embracing a clear and urgent mission: to strengthen mental health counseling in higher education through thoughtful, intuitive technology. 

Across college campuses, counseling centers are under enormous pressure. Demand for student mental health services continues to rise, while counseling teams face limited resources, increasing burnout, and outdated systems that weren’t designed for today’s challenges. The result is longer waitlists, administrative overload, and missed opportunities to intervene early. 

VirtuOwl is here to change that. 

Under Dan’s leadership, we’re deepening our investment in tools that help universities: 

• Streamline scheduling and reduce appointment bottlenecks 

• Improve counselor workflows and documentation with compliance in mind 

• Ensure FERPA- and HIPAA-aligned communication 

• Empower students to access care with less friction and more confidence 

Our goal is simple but powerful: Give time back to counselors. Give access back to students. Give peace of mind back to institutions. 

Why Now? 

The mental health crisis on college campuses isn’t coming—it’s already here. According to national data, over 60% of students report struggling with anxiety, depression, or emotional distress. At the same time, university counseling centers are struggling with capacity, retention, and clarity on how to adapt. 

Dan brings not only a deep understanding of educational institutions but also a fierce sense of urgency. With his guidance, we are doubling down on our commitment to serve counseling centers, student affairs leaders, and campus mental health professionals with solutions built for real-world complexity. 

What’s Next? 

In the months ahead, you’ll see VirtuOwl: 

• Launch new features that reduce counselor burnout and student wait times 

• Expand partnerships with universities committed to student well-being 

• Share research and resources to help administrators make informed, compassionate decisions 

Most importantly, we’ll continue listening—because every campus is different, and every student matters. 

Join Us 

As we grow, we invite you to walk alongside us—whether you’re a counseling center director, a university IT leader, a provost, or an advocate for mental health on your campus. The future of higher education depends on how well we support the people within it. 

With Dan Deem at the helm, VirtuOwl is more ready than ever to meet the moment. 

Let’s move from burnout to balance. From bottlenecks to breakthroughs. From stress to support.