Dario Wellinger is a lecturer and project leader in research, consulting and teaching at the Centre for Public Management (ZVM). His research focuses on the militia system and volunteering, the recruitment of the next generation for public office, and the communication of public organisations. At the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons (FH Graubünden), he teaches public management, public communication and marketing.

After completing his Matura at the Evangelische Mittelschule Schiers, he worked in regional journalism and then studied business administration with a specialisation in marketing at FH Graubünden and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). He also completed internships in the marketing departments of national and international companies and earned a CAS in Journalism and PR at the International Summer Academy of the University of Liechtenstein. Before joining FH Graubünden, he worked on the staff of the ZHAW School of Management and Law as assistant to the Secretary General. In 2025, he was a Visiting Professor at the Federal University of Goiás (Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG) in Goiânia, Brazil.

Alongside his professional work, Dario Wellinger has held part-time public offices under the Swiss militia system since his youth and served as a deputy member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Graubünden for the district of Schiers until 2014. Since 2021, he has been a part-time judge at the Regional Court of Prättigau/Davos and president of FDP Vorderprättigau. He is also a board member of FH Schweiz, the national umbrella association of graduates of universities of applied sciences.

Peer-reviewed publications

• Wellinger, D., Fetz, U. & Villeneuve, J.-P. (2025). Drivers of Social Media Adoption in Swiss Municipalities: The Impact of Structural Factors and Council Members’ Engagement. Yearbook of Swiss Administrative Sciences, 16(1), 191–205. https://doi.org/10.5334/ssas.229
• Derungs, C. & Wellinger, D. (2024). KI bei Bürgerdienstleistungen von Gemeinden. Marketing Review St. Gallen, 41(4), 40–47. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/320341
• Derungs, C. & Wellinger, D. (2024). Evaluation und nutzerzentriertes Design in der öffentlichen Hand. LeGes, 35(1), 1–14. Article
• Derungs, C. & Wellinger, D. (2020). Junge Erwachsene in der Gemeindepolitik – Einflussfaktoren auf deren Vertretung in Deutschschweizer Gemeindeexekutiven. Yearbook of Swiss Administrative Sciences, 11(1), 81–93. https://doi.org/10.5334/ssas.130

Further publications (selection)

• Wellinger, D. & Schädler, T. (2025). Detailhandel Plessur im Aufbruch: Chancen und Strategien für den Handel in Chur und Arosa. Chur: FHGR Verlag. Study
• Fetz, U., Schädler, T. & Wellinger, D. (2024). Wie Gemeinden in Zeiten der Digitalisierung kommunizieren. Schweizer Gemeinde, 61(4), 28–31.
• Burger, J., Wellinger, D., Künzler, M., Autenrieth, U., Fetz, U., Schädler, T., Dalmus, C. & Dahinden, U. (2023). Lokaljournalismus und Gemeindekommunikation: Bestandesaufnahme der Schweizer Lokalkommunikation auf Ebene der Lokalmedien und der Gemeinde. Chur: FH Graubünden Verlag. Study
• Wellinger, D. & Derungs, C. (2023). Das Potenzial bei den Pensionierten ist hoch. Die Volkswirtschaft, 96, 22–25. Article
• Wellinger, D., Derungs, C. & Müller, A. (2023). Plus 65 – Stärkung der politischen und gesellschaftlichen Partizipation von Senioren und Seniorinnen. Chur: FH Graubünden. Project website
• Derungs, C., Müller, A. & Wellinger, D. (2021). PoliWork – Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und politischen Milizämtern. Chur: FH Graubünden. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21572.76169
• Derungs, C. & Wellinger, D. (2019). PROMO 35 – Politisches Engagement von jungen Erwachsenen in der Gemeindeexekutive: Analysen und Stossrichtungen. Chur: HTW Chur Verlag. Study
• Derungs, C., Hauser, C. & Wellinger, D. (2016). Exportförderer: Je höher der Staatsanteil, desto ausgeprägter die Erfolgskontrolle. Die Volkswirtschaft, 8–9/2016, 52–54. Article