William Watts Folwell (February 14, 1833 – September 17, 1929) was an educator, writer and historian who was the first president of the University of Minnesota.

He attended Hobart College in Geneva, New York, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1857.

When he first assumed the presidency, the university consisted of just eight faculty members and 100 students in a single building.

Folwell's plans caused some tension with more traditional faculty, leading to resignations in 1879 and an amicable end to his presidency in 1884.

He supported Horace Cleveland's vision of a network of parks crossing the city and also suggested the term "Grand Rounds" to describe it.