Psychology Professor Steve Rouse (left) and his wife Stacy stand outside Stauffer Chapel on Easter in April 2025. Rouse was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer last fall, according to his CaringBridge page. Photo courtesy of Bradley Griffin
The Pepperdine community is mourning the loss of Steve Rouse, a father, husband, friend, Christian and Psychology professor who died after a fight with pancreatic cancer Feb. 5. He is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their two children, Dominic and Ian. He was 59.
Rouse began teaching at Pepperdine in fall 1998, according to a Pepperdine press release. Among a number of accomplishments and roles throughout his lifetime, he produced 93 academic publications throughout his career, acted as editor of the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, served the on-campus University Church of Christ Malibu as a Council Member and advocated for LGBTQ+ students as an advisor for GSA Crossroads.
“I don’t think there will ever be enough words to say how amazing he was,” alumna Dani Christy (‘23) said.
During her time at Pepperdine, Christy majored in Psychology and was involved in the e-board for GSA Crossroads, including as co-president her senior year. She said she could already feel how much Rouse cared about people just from their first interaction.
“I was reading over some of my syllabi from classes that I took with him, and you can just see the care that he put into everything, and just how much he loved all of his students,” Christy said.
Rouse served as Christy’s faculty mentor for research she conducted on mental health and religiosity among students who identify as sexual minorities at Christian universities. For Christy’s personal experience as a sexual minority at Pepperdine, Christy said Rouse’s visibility as a bi man made a “huge difference” in making her feel more safe and empowered with her lesbian identity.
“No matter what we wanted to do with GSA [Crossroads], he was always in our corner and advocating for us,” Christy said.
Rouse (left) and alumna Bella Mullin (’25) stand in front of Mullin’s research poster at the annual Research and Scholarly Achievement symposium in Waves Café in April 2025. Mullin did research under Rouse’s mentorship after taking his Psychology of Human Sexuality course. Photo courtesy of Bella Mullin
Among other students over the years — including Joshua Gash, son of President Jim Gash — Rouse also mentored alumna Bella Mullin (‘25), who conducted research on college hookup culture. Mullin said she was grateful for the support Rouse showed her throughout her research process, which she was initially nervous about. She also got to spend time with Rouse during Intercultural Affairs’ 2023 San Francisco trip, where Rouse led an LGBTQ+ history tour of the Castro District.
“He really made my Pepperdine career, and why I chose and stayed in the Psychology major, him and the several other amazing faculty,” Mullin said.
Mullin said Rouse was “always the person” she and her peers felt comfortable talking to about everyday things. She described him as an “amazing” person who had an “incredible reputation” around campus.
Senior Sociology major Ashley Eagan, who identifies as queer, said she admired Rouse’s advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ students as Pepperdine. She took his Personality Psychology class last year and first encountered Rouse through attending GSA Crossroads meetings.
“You could just tell he was so happy to talk to you and so happy to help in any way he could,” Eagan said.
Rouse served as the divisional dean of Social Science twice, according to a Pepperdine press release. He received the Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence in 2007, the Impact Award for Outstanding Service to Seaver College Students in 2021 and Distinction in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award in 2023.
Notes from students and faculty stick to Rouse’s office door in the Appleby Center on Feb. 16. One note reads, “You will forever be celebrated.” Photo by Ashley Burton
Political Science Professor Brian Newman, current Social Science divisional dean, said the Social Science division was “enormously proud” of Rouse’s accomplishments, according to a Pepperdine press release.
“Steve is one of the most generous, thoughtful, intelligent, and competent people I’ve ever known,” Newman wrote in a Feb. 11 email to the Graphic. “He always found a way to help me and did it in a warm, kind, and humble way.”
Stephanie Cupp, program administrator for the Center for Faith and Learning, said Rouse’s death has been a shock for many in the Pepperdine community. Cupp’s family has been neighbors with the Rouse family for around 25 years; her son has been lifelong friends with Rouse’s son, Dominic. She said Rouse was a “hero” and is “irreplaceable.”
“Steve believed in the God who created and loves the rainbow,” Cupp said. “He looked out for those who most needed hope and was courageous in his care for the marginalized in our community. I don’t think we were always consciously aware of this, but many of us looked to Steve as the best of who we could and should be. He was such a steady, quiet presence and we are deeply feeling the void that he left.”
University Church of Christ Malibu is holding a celebration of life for Rouse on Saturday, Feb. 28, according to a church announcement. There will be a visitation in front of Elkins Auditorium from 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. before the service starts inside at 1 p.m. The service will be livestreamed.
Before his death, Rouse wrote instructions for what attire to wear at his service, which will include a potluck dessert reception afterward.
“Everyone is required to wear clothes that they enjoy,” Rouse wrote. “Whether suits or shorts or anywhere in between, be yourself without judging anyone else’s choice.”
Rouse also wrote his own obituary, in which — in lieu of flowers — he directed people to donate to the LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline The Trevor Project, Mount Tamalpais College, a program that provides accredited college degrees for people incarcerated at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and the upcoming re-election campaign of his wife, Stacy, who serves on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education.
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