Troy Allan is a Chaplain, Essayist, Professor, and Extension faculty member who believes that art, nature, and theology are deeply connected. His writing often explores the overlooked corners of daily life—travel, solitude, resilience, family—and the ways they shape the human spirit.
After twenty years of active-duty military service, Troy retired in 2021 and returned to his roots in rural Utah. Today, he works with Utah State University Extension, leading initiatives in rural mental health, community wellness, and veteran support.
Troy holds graduate and doctoral degrees in Pastoral Counseling, Comparative Theology, and the Humanities, along with an MFA in Creative Writing from Regis University in Denver. He and his wife of thirty years, along with their two children, live on a small ranch in Koosharem, Utah, where they raise alpacas, Icelandic sheep, and horses. When he isn’t writing, teaching, or traveling, Troy can often be found under open skies, walking trails, and seeking the quiet signs that shape life.
Troy’s new book, In the Shadows: Essays on Seeing, invites readers into the quiet spaces between faith, doubt, loss, and wonder. With the attentive eye of a chaplain and the heart of an artist, Troy Allan offers meditations on how we see the world—and how the world, in turn, shapes us. These essays remind us that even in darkness, there is light waiting to be found.
