grantman

I would agree that some of the universities listed are decent ones, Mannheim FU Berlin, Konstanz are all solid schools. Another school to look at would be European University Institute or maybe Central European University. While neither are located in Germany, they are still schools with a decent name to them and have solid reputation in the social sciences. 

No worries! I hope I didn't come off as a jerk either

No worries whatsoever. I enjoyed you input. Sometimes one sided views are wrought with issues so I was glad you brought up a differing point of view. 

Wait, what?

 

As far as I am aware Cameron Thies, IR, is the current department head (although he's leaving in the fall). Sarah Mitchell, also IR, is the placement director and full Professor in the department. Kelly Kadera, another IR professor, was tenured at Iowa and is still there. Brian Lai is another associate professor as well as Director of Graduate Studies.

 

As for Americanists, I've only ever met Tracy Osborne briefly and she seemed like a lovely person.

 

Not saying that your professor friend is wrong, but that definitely isn't the impression that I have of Iowa.

Firstly, I am not trying to defame Iowa whatsoever. I am glad that you had great dialogue with the faculty there.

Second, the professor that I knew said that one of his colleagues who worked there was denied tenure, he went on to say that others were also denied tenure, only from CP and IR as I recall. His explanation was that the old guard at Iowa, who were Americanists he stated, were the ones who denied his colleagues tenure. Now the situation may not be as bleak as that and I am not saying it is a horrible university or department, but that is what I heard, so take it with a grain of salt. It could be possible that there were other extenuation circumstances that I was unaware of that may have led to this decision. Again, I am sorry if I came off poorly I did not mean to do so, all I can say is that is what I was told. 

I would be careful about Iowa. One professor who I know and trust has told me that the Americanists at Iowa run that department and they have a bad reputation in denying tenure to CP and IR professors so they may have a lot of turnover.  

^ It's not fun on the other side either

I kind we should give bad news like this.