Growing up in a military career family, Craig eventually settled in Iowa graduating from Ankeny high school. With an interest in serving humanity and finding a natural comfort with empathizing with others, he went on to study psychology and sociology at Central College. Craig was most influenced by the work of Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Fred Rogers for both their compassion and strength. He worked with emotionally challenged adolescents and was active with social justice issues related to nuclear arms reductions and peace in Central America through education and political action.