A woman found dead on a private Old Mission Peninsula beach Sunday morning was identified as 49-year-old Sonja Olshove, a faculty member at Northwestern Michigan College.

A nearby resident discovered Olshove's body on a portion of a private shared beach in the 9000 block of Center Road just before 10:30am. Olshove was also a resident of the block, located in Peninsula Township. Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene, but could not immediately determine a manner or cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled for today (Tuesday) in Kalamazoo.

Olshove taught psychology and sociology at NMC and was a two-time recipient of the college's Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award in 2001 and 2013. The award is chosen by a student selection committee to honor "teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication."