Pepperdine Mourns the Loss of Seaver Professor Steven Rouse
Pepperdine University is mourning the loss of Steven Rouse, beloved Seaver College professor who died Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the age of 59.
As a professor of psychology, Rouse served Pepperdine University for 28 years, shaping the lives of students through the classroom, the research field, and as a dedicated mentor. During his tenure at Seaver College, he was awarded the Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence, the Impact Award for Outstanding Service to Seaver College Students, and the Distinction in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award. Each of these honors speaks to Rouse’s profound commitment to the academic mission of Seaver College and its undergraduates.
In addition to his pedagogical excellence, Rouse was an accomplished scholar and impactful voice within the social science discipline. He produced a total of 93 academic publications throughout his career, gave countless presentations, and wholeheartedly collaborated with colleagues to help discover new knowledge in the field of psychology. Rouse also gave back to the scholarly community by serving as the associate editor and editor of the Psi Chi - The International Honor Society in Psychology, journal for over a decade. Within the last month, he was honored as a Distinguished Member of Psi Chi for his achievements and dedicated service to the organization.
At Seaver College, Dr. Rouse will be remembered for his courage, his compassion, and his heart for others. He served as an advocate for students by acting as an advisor for the Crossroads Gender Sexuality Alliance, the Neurodiversity Student Organization, and the Eta Theta Tau Musical theatre club. He led colleagues across the Malibu campus as a model professor and administrator, enhancing Seaver’s academic community with his spirit of collaboration and steadfast commitment to Pepperdine’s mission.
“The faculty and staff of the Social Science division are profoundly sad to hear of Steve’s passing. And yet, we are enormously proud of his life and accomplishments both in and outside the classroom,” says Brian Newman, the current divisional dean of social science at Seaver College. “He led our division in official ways as a two-term divisional dean and in countless less visible ways as a colleague, mentor, advisor, scholar, teacher, and friend. Steve's kindness, thoughtfulness, and helpful support for students, staff, and faculty inspire us. I am honored to be his colleague, and we will miss him deeply.”
Rouse began teaching at Pepperdine University in the fall of 1998. Prior to that, he started his academic career by teaching at Abilene Christian University, Baylor University, McMurray University, and the University of Minnesota. Rouse earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master of science in clinical and counseling psychology from Abilene Christian University. He earned his PhD in psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Steven Rouse is survived by his spouse, Stacy, and two young adult children, Dominic and Ian.