CRACIA was founded in 2014 by Janet Chernela, Chris Hewlett, Eduardo Fernandez, anthropology professors of the University of Maryland, and Catherine Allen, emeritus anthropology professor, George Washington University. Founding members include UMd doctoral candidates Emily Colon and Jessica Breitfeller; former affiliates of the Smithsonian Anthony Seeger, William Crocker, Theresa Miller, and Javier Carrera Rubio; professor of anthropology, College of William and Mary,  William Fisher; professor George Mentore, University of Virginia; professor Laura Mentore, Mary Washington University; Stanford Zent and Eglee Zent of the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas.